Things didn’t remotely go as planned for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC divisional round, losing 30-27 to the Los Angeles Rams at Raymond James Stadium. The Rams began running away with the game over the course of the first half, but suffered mistake after mistake and, as such, allowed Tom Brady to nearly go full “Tom Brady” in the fourth quarter. This game had it all — critical takeaways and highlight touchdowns that wildly swung momentum back and forth.

Credit the Buccaneers for clawing back from a 24-point deficit to nearly stun the Rams and, in the process, grant Brady another one of the biggest postseason comebacks in NFL history. But the seven-time Super Bowl winner and reigning Super Bowl MVP was ultimately outdueled on his own field by Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp, among others, in what was easily one of the best playoff games you’ve ever witnessed, and that’s not an exaggeration.

When the Los Angeles Rams acquired Matthew Stafford in a blockbuster trade last winter, the veteran quarterback said he wanted to play in big games, an opportunity he seldom received during 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions.

Stafford and the Rams — fresh off the dramatic 30-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium — are now one victory away from the biggest game of all.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a fine tune-up in their first playoff game as the defending Super Bowl champions, taking a 31-point lead after three quarters and never looking back in a 31-15 rout over the Philadelphia Eagles. Brady finished 29 of 37 for 271 yards and two touchdowns as Tampa Bay controlled the game from the opening kickoff.

Tampa Bay scored three times on its first four possessions to take a 17-0 lead, as Brady went 20 of 25 for 159 yards before halftime.

Both of Brady’s touchdown passes came in the second half: a two-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski and a 36-yard strike to Mike Evans that put Tampa Bay up 31-0 in the third quarter. Evans finished with nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.

The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Las Vegas Raiders 26-19 in Saturday’s AFC wild-card matchup, earning their first postseason victory since 1991 and ending an eight-game playoff losing streak that dated back more than three decades.

On Saturday evening, Paul Brown Stadium was absolutely rocking as the Cincinnati Bengals hosted a playoff game for the first time since the 2015 season.

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase performed in the playoffs, just as advertised. Burrow completed over 70% of his passes and tossed a pair of touchdowns. Chase was his favorite target, with nine catches for 119 yards.

The Bengals last won a playoff game 32 years and nine days ago, so long that it came against a now-defunct team, the Houston Oilers. Only two active Bengals players — punter Kevin Huber​​ and long snapper Clark Harris — were alive. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was 7. The playoff losing streak started the following week against the Raiders, who were in Los Angeles back then.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow was efficient Saturday, completing 24 of 34 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie kicker Evan McPherson made all four of his field-goal attempts.