Insane. That’s one word to summarize all the things that have happened over the weekend in the NFL Divisional Round. That includes the jaw-dropping game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday which will surely be talked about for a very, very, very long time.

NitroBetting is ready to equip its bettors with the latest news, NFL odds, and previews for the entirety of the 2022 NFL Playoffs. This time, let’s highlight the three key takeaways from the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their NFC Divisional Round matchup.

3 Key Takeaways from Rams Win vs. Buccaneers in 2022 NFL Divisional Round

This team. pic.twitter.com/1YxBpiaB2K

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 24, 2022

READ MORE: Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL Wild Card Win Takeaways

The good Matthew Stafford showed up

A big reason why many believed that the Buccaneers will come away with a win Sunday was that they have Tom Brady. Matthew Stafford is a solid quarterback for an elite team, but he’s been shaky under center in the games leading up to the Divisional Round. In the last three Rams games in the regular season, Stafford threw for six touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also got sacked five times in the regular-season finale loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

But Stafford has stepped up since the end of Week 18. Against the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card Round, Stafford went just 13-of-17 for 202 yards but tossed two touchdowns and zero interceptions. And then in the huge game against the Bucs, he passed for 366 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 28-of-38 completions — and still without a pick.

He outdueled Brady in the process and perhaps gave the future Hall of Famer a loss in what could be Brady’s last game in the NFL. The Rams traded for Stafford in the offseason for a reason, and he has been proving this postseason why Los Angeles was right in making that decision.

The Rams will now prepare for a matchup against division-mate San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game. Los Angeles is currently favored by 3.5 points against the Niners.

There was no Tom Brady playoff magic

Well, if we’re not being strict about it, Brady did sprinkle this playoff game with some good ole’ TB magic. He found wide receiver Mike Evans for a 55-yard touchdown in thbe fourth quarter that cut down the Rams’ lead by seven with over three minutes left in regulation. Then the Bucs’ defense got the ball back with a fumble recovery off Cam Akers before Leonard Fournette rushed for a touchdown that tied the game.

There were only 42 seconds left on the game clock when Fournette scored, and it looked like the contest was headed to overtime. But the Rams had other plans and still won the game on a Matt Gay field goal. Brady could do nothing about that. There was simply no time left for Tampa Bay to ask Brady for at least one more legendary drive. Regardless of the outcome, Brady will always be remembered for his success than his shortcomings.

Is this the end of Tom Brady?

Speaking of Brady, could the Bucs’ loss to the Rams be the last game he’s ever played? There’s really nothing that Brady needs to prove on the football field, but the competitive fire and the thirst for more success AKA Super Bowl rings are definitely still there for the 44-year-old vet. Brady signed a one-year extension deal with the Buccaneers in March 2021 that’s worth $25 million.

It should also be noted that if Brady decides to retire, Tampa Bay will recoup a portion of his salary. But it’s also fair to assume that the Buccaneers would have Brady for another year, considering how good he still looked out there on the field despite his age. Brady finished the regular season with the most passing yards and the most number of passing touchdowns.

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