The Tom Brady 'will he, won't he?' retirement debate has shifted into high gear, as NFL fans wonder if the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback has played his last game, after Tampa Bay's 30-27 loss to Los Angeles Rams in the NFL playoffs.
Even in the days leading up to the meeting at Tampa, it seemed everyone was trying to read the tea leaves about Brady's future.
Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told The Tampa Bay Times that he would be "shocked", if Brady did not return for next season, while ESPN reported that sources close to the NFL all-time passing leader said he was non-committal about playing.
The 44-year-old says he wants to play until at least 45 and has offered no hint that he does not plan to honour the final year of his current deal that will pay him US$25.4 million (NZ$37.8m).
Based on his performance this season, there would seem little reason for Brady not to return. He played in all 17 games, leading the NFL in passing yards with a career high 5316 and throwing 43 touchdown passes.
Asked about his future, Brady told reporters: "I haven't put a lot of thought into it. We'll just take it day by day and see where we're at."
Brady adds he felt great physically and brushed off a question on whether he thought the game might be his last.
"I was just thinking about winning," he says. "That's just kind of my mentality to go out there and try to win, give my team the best chance to win."
Brady's fierce competitiveness has helped him earn seven-Super Bowl rings, including one last year with Tampa, was on full display, as he engineered a second-half fightback against the Rams.
Trailing 27-3 in the third quarter, the Buccaneers rallied to tie the contest with 42 seconds remaining, on a Leonard Fournette nine-yard touchdown run, but that was still enough time for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to work the ball deep into Tampa territory, where kicker Matt Gay sealed victory with a 30-yard field goal.
The Rams advanced to the NFC conference title game against San Francisco 49ers.
Chiefs edge Bills in final minute, overtime
Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes passed for 378 yards and rushed for 69, as Kansas City Chiefs advanced to their fourth straight AFC championship game, outlasting Buffalo Bills 42-36 at home.
Mahomes completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce on the first possession of overtime, which prevented the Bills from ever getting a chance in the extra session.
Kansas City claimed their 11th win in 12 games, but will host the AFC championship game next Sunday against the one opponent that beat the Chiefs during that stretch - Cincinnati Bengals.
The teams each scored twice inside the final two minutes of regulation, generating 25 points during that span. Kansas City forced overtime on a 49-yard field goal by Harrison Butker as time expired.
Before that, Josh Allen fired touchdown strikes of 27 and 19 yards to Gabriel Davis, the last coming with 13 seconds remaining. Mahomes responded to the first score by hitting Tyreek Hill with a 64-yard TD strike, before finding Hill for 19 yards and Kelce for 25 to set up Butker.
Allen played brilliantly, connecting with Davis for four touchdowns, while finishing with 329 yards passing and 68 yards rushing. Davis caught eight passes for 201 yards.
Mahomes finished 33 of 44, with 11 strikes to Hill for 150 yards.
Allen engineered a 75-yard march in 75 seconds, firing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 37 seconds remaining to forge a 14-14 halftime tie. Buffalo also scored on its first drive, converting two fourth downs, including a one-yard touchdown rush by Devin Singletary.
Mahomes engineered touchdown drives of 11 and 12 plays in the first half. He rushed for 49 yards on the first series, including an eight-yard score, and found Byron Pringle for a two-yard TD pass with 1m 52s remaining in the second quarter.
For the half, Mahomes totaled 163 yards and Allen 158, with no turnovers. A 50-yard field-goal attempt by Butker in the first half sailed wide right.
Reuters
