The Tom Brady retirement debate shifted into high gear as the future Hall of Fame quarterback refused to rule out that he had played his last game after the Los Angeles Rams saw off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27 in their divisional round clash.
Matt Gay converted a 30-yard field as time expired, giving the Rams a dramatic win over the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Rams advance to the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.
Gay's game-winning kick was set up when Matthew Stafford, who completed 28 of 38 passes for 366 yards and two touchdowns, found Cooper Kupp for a 44-yard gain to the Buccaneers' 12-yard line. The play capped a nine-catch, 183-yard day for Kupp.
"Steal somebody's soul," Stafford said of leading the game-winning drive. "You get to reach in there and take it from them. That's a whole lot of fun."
Tampa Bay tied the game with 42 seconds left when Leonard Fournette had a nine-yard touchdown run, completing the Bucs' comeback from a 24-point third-quarter deficit. But they left just enough time for Los Angeles to beat them.
Brady led a frantic second-half comeback, connecting with 30 of 54 passes for 329 yards and a touchdown for the game, while also throwing an interception. Mike Evans caught eight passes for 119 yards and a 55-yard score that reduced the Rams' lead to 27-20 with just over three minutes to play.
.@CooperKupp put the team on his back.
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2022
This ending was WILD. #LARvsTB pic.twitter.com/6clEXf9SQq
Even in the days leading up to the meeting in 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 is non-committal about playing.
The 44-year-old has said 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 $25.4m.
Based on his performance this season there would seem little reason for Brady not to return.
He played in all 17 games and led the NFL in passing yards with a career high 5,316 and threw 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 added that 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. That's just kind of my mentality to go out there and try to win, give my team the best chance to win," Brady said.
