Patrick Mahomes walked onto the practice field at Missouri Western on Sunday flanked by a flotilla of rookies and longshots, many of whom have long dreamed of making in a year what the Chiefs quarterback will make by the end of the day.

Tom Brady intends to take time to ponder his future but one thing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers already know is next season’s roster figures to be significantly different _ with or without the seven-time Super Bowl winner.

Tom Brady threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers launch their bid for a return to the Super Bowl with a dominating 31-15 NFC wild-card playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tom Brady threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers launch their bid for a return to the Super Bowl with a dominating 31-15 NFC wild-card playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tom Brady topped 5,000 yards passing for the second time in his career and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers set a franchise record for regular-season victories with a 41-17 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Tom Brady threw for 232 yards and a touchdown, Antonio Brown made a grand return to the lineup after missing the last eight games and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-6 on Sunday to clinch their first NFC South title since 2007.

Tom Brady threw for 232 yards and a touchdown, Antonio Brown made a grand return to the lineup after missing the last eight games and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-6 on Sunday to clinch their first NFC South title since 2007.

Tom Brady threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the brink of an NFC South title with a 30-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Tom Brady threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the brink of an NFC South title with a 30-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Leonard Fournette capped a four-touchdown game with a 28-yard scoring run with 20 seconds left to give Tampa Bay a 38-31 come-from-behind victory at Indianapolis.

Leonard Fournette capped a four-touchdown game with a 28-yard scoring run with 20 seconds left to give Tampa Bay a 38-31 come-from-behind victory at Indianapolis.

Tom Brady rallied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 19-17 victory over the Patriots on a rainy Sunday night in his return to New England, with Ryan Succop hitting the winning 48-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Tom Brady threw for 154 yards and a touchdown in just more than a quarter and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a 23-16 win over the Houston Texans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)TAMPA, Fla. – Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be denied. The 43-year-old six-time Super Bowl champion may no longer be the best quarterback in the NFL, however, he’s shown in his first season with the Bucs that he’s still good enough to lead a team to the NFL title game. You want to make some moves that hopefully get your team into the Super Bowl.

“First of all, I've got to let you know that I'm the rabbit's foot,” McCoy said with a big grin. “If I get two championships, I mean, with all my resume, it might be over,” McCoy said. There were some off-field issues, too, including being accused by an ex-girlfriend of physical abuse — allegations McCoy vehemently denied. AdHere he is again, a victory away from a repeat — even if he's far from a focal point on offense. While the timing didn't seem right in Philadelphia, McCoy saw what Tampa Bay was building — starting with Tom Brady.

Kansas City and Tampa Bay have several starters, including some notable pass catchers, scheduled to become free agents next month. So the Super Bowl between the Chiefs and Buccaneers will serve as a farewell for several players with their current team. Brown signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with Tampa in late October and has been a model citizen since. He has 45 receptions for 623 yards and seven touchdowns after signing a one-year, $9 million deal. He turned 34 last month and might be willing to sign another one-year deal to stay in Tampa.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs with a elastic band around his legs during an NFL football workout Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston but dared to dream of signing Brady if the six-time Super Bowl champion decided to leave New England as a free agent. Of course it was Tom Brady, not thinking he would become a free agent,” Arians added. Ad“Naturally, I think you envision every year in the offseason you want to make some moves that hopefully get your team into the Super Bowl.

– The Kansas City Chiefs had a pretty good idea what kind of COVID-19 protocols they would have to wade through in defense of their Super Bowl championship the moment they finally gathered for in-person training camp. And it was Burkholder who helped the Chiefs navigate the season with few positive tests and just one postponement — the fault of the other team — as they closed in on a Super Bowl repeat. Those were things we just didn't know, and it was a process to figure out how to do this.”AdUltimately, the Chiefs and Buccaneers are in the Super Bowl in part because they figured it out as well as anybody. It's easy to follow the example of Tom Brady, with six Super Bowl rings behind him and the Hall of Fame in front of him, when he demands the Buccaneers mask up. The same with Patrick Mahomes, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, when he tells the Chiefs to skip the family gatherings around the holidays.

But Gronk in particular has always been a big-play guy in big games for Brady, and Green Bay doesn't have linebackers who excel in coverage. Green Bay will do some blitzing, though not as much as Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles figures to do. Unlike Brady, Rodgers can create outside the pocket, and he's especially dangerous when doing so. Veteran placekicker Mason Crosby is solid, making all 16 field goal attempts, but missed four PATs for Green Bay. Tampa Bay's Ryan Succop, now in his 12th pro season, made 28 of 31 field goal tries but missed five extra points.

The Packers defeated the Rams 32-18 to advance to the NFC championship game. When Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers (14-3) host Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-5) in the NFC championship game Sunday, it will be just the fourth time they’ve squared off as starting quarterbacks, and first in the playoffs. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play against him one more time.”The Bucs trounced the Packers 38-10 in Tampa on Oct. 18. A win at Lambeau Field clinches their first Super Bowl berth since their 2002 championship season. “We play the Packers in the NFC championship game.

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)TAMPA BAY (13-5) at GREEN BAY (14-3)Sunday, 3:05 p.m. SPREAD — Buccaneers 11-7; Packers 11-6SERIES RECORD — Packers lead 33-22-1LAST MEETING — Buccaneers beat Packers 38-10 in Tampa, Oct. 18, 2020LAST WEEK — Buccaneers beat Saints 30-20; Packers beat Rams 32-18AP PRO32 RANKING — Buccaneers No. STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — This is the second playoff meeting between Tampa Bay and Green Bay. The Packers beat the Bucs 21-7 in a divisional playoff game at Green Bay on Jan. 4, 1998. …Brady is making a league-record 14th conference championship game appearance, his first in the NFC.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates his touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. Don't forget Antonio Brown, who joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at midseason and has contributed to the team’s run to Sunday’s NFC championship game at Green Bay. Then there’s Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson, a couple of late-round draft picks roughly half the age of the 43-year-old quarterback. The more that I’ve been around Mike, Chris, Antonio, Scooter (Miller), Tyler, Mick (Jaydon Mickens) — the better it gets,” Brady said. Tyler makes a great catch,” Arians added.

Aside from winning the final Super Bowl before the merger in 1970, the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest claim to fame for over half a century was team founder Lamar Hunt coining the phrase Super Bowl. Three long-downtrodden teams — the Browns, Bills and Buccaneers — have made it to the divisional round this weekend and are certain they have as good a chance as the Chiefs, Packers, Saints, Ravens or Rams of winning Super Bowl 55. That’s heady stuff for a franchise that has never made it to the Super Bowl. I think Bills fans, including myself, didn’t think he was going to be this good this good this early. And he has proved a lot of people wrong.”No, there’s no comparing this Bills team to those of his playing days, Thomas said.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)The NFC playoff field features the usual cast of quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 45, 31-25 over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Feb. 6, 2011, at Arlington, Texas. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 48, 43-8 over the Denver Broncos on Feb. 2, 2014, at East Rutherford, N.J. Last year: No. The Bears’ leading tackler left in the first quarter of the Green Bay game with an elbow injury. DBs Buster Skrine, rookie Jaylon Johnson and Deon Bush missed the loss to Green Bay.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during an NFL football practice Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)TAMPA, Fla. – New team, same ole Tom Brady. Brady led New England to the Super Bowl nine times in 20 seasons, appearing in 41 playoff games and winning 30 — both records. “When he first signed I said, ‘OK, we’ll be a 40 (touchdown) and 10 (interception) team,’” Arians said. “It’s a never-ending thing with him, the perfectionist, to get everything right in practice,” Arians added.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)TAMPA, Fla. – Making the playoffs for the first time in 13 years is just a start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “There’s going to be a bunch of teams that make it this year, and there’s only going to be one team that ends up happy,” Brady said. The Bucs gained 410 yards in the first half against the Lions compared to 60 before halftime against the Falcons the previous week. STOCK DOWNDespite the shortcomings on special teams against Detroit, Arians feels good about where the team’s overall performance as it heads toward the playoffs.

NFL Sunday TicketOPENING LINE - Buccaneers by 7 1/2RECORD VS. SPREAD - Buccaneers 7-7, Lions 5-8-1SERIES RECORD - Lions lead 31-28LAST MEETING - Buccaneers beat Lions 38-17 Dec. 15, 2019, at DetroitLAST WEEK - Buccaneers beat Falcons 31-27; Lions lost to Titans 46-25AP PRO32 RANKING - Buccaneers No. BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (1), PASS (25). LIONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (19), RUSH (30), PASS (7). LIONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (30), RUSH (29), PASS (27).

It’s just a matter of getting in.”The Bucs (8-5) took a step toward ending the league’s second-longest postseason drought with Sunday’s 26-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The Bucs have missed the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons and haven’t won a postseason game since their Super Bowl run 18 years ago. “If we want to get to the playoffs, we’ve got to win these games. Dalvin Cook rushed for 102 yards and Minnesota gained 162 overall on the ground. The third-year pro gained 80 on 18 carries against Minnesota to move closer to his first 1,000-yard season.

The Bucs (8-5) bolstered their chances of their first postseason berth in 13 years with Sunday's 26-14 victory over Minnesota. Bailey nearly cost the Vikings the previous week, too, missing two extra points and a potential winning kick before nailing a field goal in overtime to beat Jacksonville. This time, Brady shrugged off a scoreless opening quarter with help from Bailey and a trio of costly of penalties on the Vikings' defense. Brady launched two of Tampa Bay’s three first-half scoring drives after missed field goal attempts. A pass interference call on linebacker Todd Davis gave Tampa a chance to tack on the field goal that made it 17-6 at the break.

Brady threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns, Ronald Jones set a franchise-record with a 98-yard touchdown run, and the Buccaneers bounced back from a dreadful defeat with a resounding 46-23 win over the Carolina Panthers. Panthers coach Matt Rhule described Brady’s play as “elite” and “fantastic.”The Bucs ran the ball just five times last week. Tampa Bay racked up 544 yards on offense and outgained the Panthers 322-35 in the second half and outscored them 29-6. Chris Godwin had 92 yards receiving for the Buccaneers (7-3), who swept the season series and handed the Panthers (3-7) their fifth straight loss. Rhule said the Panthers were unaware the ball had hit the ground or else he would have just had Bridgewater spike the ball.

He recognized Monday night’s 25-23 victory by his Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn’t very artistic. But Tampa Bay (6-2) had to sweat it out. But he fumbled when hit by Blake Martinez and rookie Darnay Holmes recovered at the Tampa Bay 12. ... Evans led Tampa Bay with five catches for 55 yards, and Gronkowski wound up with four receptions for 41 yards. New Orleans beat Tampa Bay in the season opener 34-23.

Brady threw four touchdown passes to move past Drew Brees for the most in NFL history and ran for another to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 45-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. He now has 15 TD passes and one interception the past four games as he has found his rhythm with his new team. It also gave the Raiders their first opening drive TD since Week 16 of last season vs. the Chargers. FAVORITE TARGET IIBrady connected with Gronkowski for the second straight week with a 5-yard TD pass in the second quarter. Raiders: T Sam Young left with a knee injury in the second quarter and didn't return.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)TAMPA, Fla. – Tom Brady outplayed Aaron Rodgers in a rare meeting between the Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers erased an early double-digit deficit to rout the previously unbeaten Green Bay Packers 38-10 on Sunday. Brady also threw a 7-yard TD pass to rookie Tyler Johnson and Ronald Jones had a pair of rushing TDs for Tampa Bay, which got an even more impressive performance from its defense. Green Bay (4-1) never recovered. BRADY VS. RODGERSBrady and Rodgers split their two previous head-to-head meetings, with the Packers winning 26-21 in 2014 at Green Bay and New England winning 31-17 at home in 2018, while Brady was playing for the Patriots. INJURIESPackers: LT David Bakhtiari left in the third quarter with a chest injury, leaving Green Bay to play the remainder of the game without its best offensive lineman.

While Tampa Bay's high-profile running backs were non-factors Thursday night, Jones went over 100 yards rushing for the second straight game. But the Buccaneers stalled in the second half of a 20-19 loss to the Chicago Bears. Fournette had 103 yards rushing in Week 2 against Carolina — and just 20 yards in his other two games. He had a career-high 111 yards rushing against the Chargers, and he picked up right where left off against Chicago. He had 11 carries for 56 yards in the first half, while the Bears had 35 yards rushing — for the game.

DENVER – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will head west to play against the Denver Broncos at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. The Bucs are 1-1 on the season and the Broncos are 0-2 the year. Quarterback Tom Brady has thrown for 3 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and 456 yards this season. Leonard Fournette leads the Bucs in rushing yards with 108 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Evans leads the team in catches with 8 receptions and two touchdowns for 106 yards.

I think we’re still a long way from where we need to be," Brady said. Brady completed 23 of 35 passes, and Evans finished with seven receptions for 104 yards. “Nine penalties and four giveaways, but it’s a one-score game in the fourth quarter," Panthers coach Matt Rhule said. “I thought he competed and there will be days where you can’t get things flowing,” the Panthers coach added. In a twist, the Panthers also made a concerted effort to get wide receiver Curtis Samuel involved in the running game.

SPREAD - Panthers 0-1; Buccaneers 0-1SERIES RECORD - Panthers lead 24-15LAST MEETING - Panthers beat Buccaneers 37-26, Oct. 13, 2019 in TampaLAST WEEK - Panthers lost to Raiders 34-30; Buccaneers lost to Saints 34-23AP PRO32 RANKING - Panthers No. PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (T17), RUSH (20), PASS (16). BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (24), RUSH (25), PASS (T18). STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — First meeting between NFC South rivals with Tom Brady leading the Buccaneers and Teddy Bridgewater as Panthers QB. ... Bucs LB Shaquil Barrett, the 2019 NFL sacks leader, had three in two games against the Panthers last season.

TAMPA, Fla. Leonard Fournette feels he and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are an ideal match. Howard and Cameron Brate, and running backs Ronald Jones and LeSean McCoy, Fournette envisions himself thriving against opposing defenses no longer able to game plan to stop him alone. The defense has to game plan against eight guys and not just one, Fournette added. Not a lot of pressures going to be on me, said Fournette, who as a rookie helped the Jaguars reach the AFC championship game against Bradys Patriots. We just have to learn the game plan, the coach added.

FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2019, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) sits on the bench in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, in Nashville, Tenn. The Jacksonville Jaguars have waived running back Leonard Fournette, a stunning decision that gets the team closer to purging Tom Coughlin's tenure. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)TAMPA, Fla. Leonard Fournette intends to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are stockpiling playmakers to help Tom Brady be successful with his new team. The former Jacksonville Jaguars running back tweeted an image of himself carrying a football and wearing a Bucs jersey and helmet long with a pen-signing emoji and the message #GoBucs on Wednesday night. Fournette, the former LSU star drafted fourth overall in 2017, was released Monday by the Jaguars and became a free agent after clearing waivers.

TAMPA, Fla. Leonard Fournette intends to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are stockpiling playmakers to help Tom Brady be successful with his new team. The former Jacksonville Jaguars running back tweeted an image of himself carrying a football and wearing a Bucs jersey and helmet long with a pen-signing emoji and the message #GoBucs on Wednesday night. Fournette, the former LSU star drafted fourth overall in 2017, was released Monday by the Jaguars and became a free agent after clearing waivers. He helped Jacksonville reach the AFC championship game as a rookie and topped 1,000 rushing two of three seasons there. Fournette is coming off the best overall season of his career, rushing for 1,152 yards and accounting for another 522 yards on 76 pass receptions in 2019.

Leonard Fournette is the latest high-profile addition to an already potent offense bolstered by Brady luring his favorite target, Rob Gronkowski, out of retirement. A talented collection of playmakers, including Pro Bowl receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and highly regarded tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, are part of what made Tampa Bay an attractive landing spot for Brady in free agency. Now, all coach Bruce Arians has to figure out is how all the components fit. ... Its just fantastic, the commitment theyve shown, Arians, entering his second season in Tampa Bay, said Thursday.