By beating Philadelphia with a score of 32-9, Tampa Bay secured their spot in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. They will now face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. This victory brings their overall playoff record to 12-11 (.522), and since 2000, they have a record of 9-6 (.600). This winning percentage in postseason games since 2000 is shared with two other teams as the third-highest in the NFL during that time.
Tampa Bay has been incredibly successful since the start of the 2020 season, accumulating 47 wins in both the regular season and playoffs. This makes them the team with the third-most wins in the NFL and the most wins among NFC teams during this period. Additionally, the Buccaneers have won six postseason games, the second-most in the NFL and the most among NFC teams. In their recent game against the Eagles, Tampa Bay held them to only 9 points, which ties for their second-lowest points allowed in a playoff game in franchise history. Their victory over the Eagles also resulted in a +23 point differential, which is the third-largest margin of victory in a postseason game for the Buccaneers. In total, Tampa Bay has outscored their opponents 227-163 (+64) in postseason games since the start of the 2020 season, giving them the largest point differential in the league during this time.
Tampa Bay successfully prevented Philadelphia from converting any of their nine third-down attempts, making it only the third time since 1991 that the team has achieved this feat. Two previous instances include a game against Carolina in Week 16 of the 2011 season and another against Atlanta in Week 15 of the 2007 season. In terms of NFL playoffs history, it is the fourth time a team has accomplished this, with the L.A. Rams achieving it against the Arizona Cardinals in the 2021 Wild Card round, the Kansas City Chiefs against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 Divisional round, and the Houston Texans against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 Wild Card round.
Tampa Bay had a significant advantage in yardage against Philadelphia in their playoff game, outgaining them 426 to 276, which is the largest yardage differential in the club’s history. The Eagles had a low number of first downs in this game, totaling only 13, which is their lowest for the season.
The Buccaneers set a new record by limiting Philadelphia to just 42 rushing yards, the lowest in the season for the Eagles. This is the second time in franchise history that Tampa Bay has held their playoff opponent to such a low rushing total, with the previous occasion being in Super Bowl XXVII against the Oakland Raiders, who managed only 19 rushing yards.
Additionally, the Buccaneers achieved another milestone in their playoff game against Philadelphia, as they forced a safety. This was the first time in the club’s postseason history that they were able to accomplish this feat.
Furthermore, Tampa Bay now boasts a 4-2 record in their six career postseason matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Buccaneers have eliminated the Eagles from the playoffs in the years 2023, 2021, 2002, and 1979.
Baker Mayfield had a remarkable performance in the playoffs, making history for the club. He completed 22 out of 36 passes, resulting in a 61.1% completion rate. He accumulated a total of 337 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes without any interceptions. These impressive stats earned him a passer rating of 119.8, making him the first quarterback in the club’s history to achieve such numbers in a postseason game. In fact, his passer rating was the second-highest in club postseason games, following Tom Brady’s 125.8 rating in Super Bowl LV. Mayfield’s three passing touchdowns tied the record for the most in a playoff game for the club, and his 337 passing yards ranked as the third-most in a single game in club postseason history.
In terms of passer rating, Tom Brady has dominated the leaderboard in single-game postseason performance. Brady holds the top spot with a rating of 125.8, achieved in Super Bowl LV. Baker Mayfield follows closely behind with a rating of 119.8 in the 2023 Wild Card game. Brady also secures the third spot with a rating of 115.2 in the 2021 Wild Card game. He further occupies the fourth and fifth positions, with ratings of 104.3 and 92.9, in the 2020 Wild Card and 2020 Divisional games, respectively.
Top players in postseason passing yardage for single games are as follows:
1. Tom Brady holds the record for the highest passing yardage in a single postseason game with 381 yards, achieved during the 2020 Wild Card round.
2. Tom Brady also ranks second in this category with 351 passing yards in the 2022 Wild Card round.
3. Baker Mayfield comes in third place with 337 passing yards in the 2023 Wild Card round.
4. Tom Brady is fourth on the list with 280 passing yards in the 2021 Divisional round.
5. Tom Brady rounds out the top five with 271 passing yards in the 2021 Wild Card round.
TE Cade Otton had a strong performance in the game, making a team-high eight catches for 89 yards. This set new personal records for him in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. In fact, his eight catches are the most ever by a tight end in a playoff game for the club. Additionally, his 89 receiving yards are the second-highest ever by a tight end in postseason history for the franchise.
Meanwhile, WR David Moore had a solid game as well, catching two passes for 66 yards and scoring his first career postseason touchdown with a 44-yard catch-and-run play. This touchdown reception ranks as the third-longest in franchise playoff history. Additionally, WR Trey Palmer had a remarkable catch, making a 56-yard touchdown reception. This catch now holds the record for the longest postseason touchdown catch in club history.
In terms of franchise history, the longest postseason touchdown receptions are as follows:
1. Trey Palmer holds the record with a 56-yard reception in the 2023 Wild Card game.
2. Mike Evans comes in second with a 55-yard reception in the 2021 Divisional game.
3. David Moore ranks third with a 44-yard reception in the 2023 Wild Card game.
4. Scotty Miller is fourth with a 39-yard reception in the 2020 NFC Championship game.
5. There is a tie for fifth place, with two players both having a 36-yard reception.
In the recent game, wide receiver Chris Godwin made a significant contribution by catching four passes for 45 yards and scoring a touchdown. With this performance, Godwin now has the second-most postseason receptions in team history, surpassing Warrick Dunn and Leonard Fournette. Additionally, his touchdown catch has tied him with Cameron Brate, Antonio Brown, and Keenan McCardell for the third-most touchdown receptions in franchise playoff history.
The following individuals are the leading players in the franchise’s history in terms of postseason receptions:
1. Mike Evans tops the list with 37 catches.
2. Chris Godwin follows closely with 30 receptions.
3. Leonard Fournette is in third place with 28 receptions.
4. Warrick Dunn secured 26 catches.
5. Keyshawn Johnson rounds out the top five with 23 receptions.
WR Mike Evans had three receptions for 48 yards, setting new franchise records for postseason catches (37) and receiving yards (562).
RB Raachad White had 72 rushing yards on 18 carries, tying for the sixth-most rushing yards in a playoff game for the franchise. The team finished with 119 rushing yards, the sixth-largest total in a playoff game in team history.
CB Jamel Dean had 10 tackles, tying his career-high, as well as one tackle for loss and one pass defensed. He has now recorded at least one pass defensed in six of his nine career playoff games.
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka got his first career postseason sack.
DT Greg Gaines had two tackles, including one for loss, one quarterback hit, and one sack. This brings his career postseason sack total to 1.5.
NT Vita Vea and DL Calijah Kancey split a sack, with Kancey earning his first career postseason sack and Vea increasing his career playoff sack total to 2.5.
LB Lavonte David had five tackles, including two for loss, setting a new postseason career high. He now has the second-most postseason tackles in franchise history with 58, tied with Devin White and trailing only Derrick Brooks.
CB Carlton Davis III had four tackles and two passes defensed, matching his single-game postseason high.
K Chase McLaughlin made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 54-yarder which set a new club record for the longest made field goal in a playoff game. His three made field goals tie for the second-most in a playoff game in team history.
P Jake Camarda punted three times, pinning Philadelphia inside their own 20-yard line on all three kicks. This ties the franchise record for most punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in a playoff game.
Senior Offensive Assistant Tom Moore coached in his 50th career playoff game.
Todd Bowles earned his first playoff win as a head coach.
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