Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady eviscerated the Detroit Lions in the first half Saturday afternoon, throwing four touchdowns against the beleaguered NFC North club.
Not only did Brady pace Tampa Bay to a 34-0 lead heading into the break, but the veteran signal-caller also helped a franchise record for points in a half.
Check out all four of Magnificent Tom's touchdowns for yourself:
While the performance was otherworldly—especially considering it came in only two quarters of play—it wasn't the first time Brady has provided such theatrics in a single half. According to NFL Research, Brady is the only person in league history to have thrown at least 340 passing yards, and four touchdowns without an interception in a half—a feat which the passer has now achieved twice.
Although it came against the Lions, a team that has struggled all season with their pass defense, Brady and the offenses' performance Saturday, will likely alleviate some concerns in Tampa Bay as the team heads into the postseason. Despite failing to pry the New Orleans Saints from the top of the division standings, the Buccaneers are in a position to secure a Wild Card spot. Having entered the season with the belief that they could contend for a Super Bowl appearance, the Buccaneers and Brady have experienced bouts of inconsistency throughout the year, leading many to wonder if they could compete in a crowded NFC playoff field.
After Saturday's beatdown of the Lions, no one will wonder what the Buccaneers can do when firing on all cylinders.
Since pulling Brady at the half to avoid a potential injury, the Buccaneers backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert has thrown two touchdowns of his own, as Tampa Bay leads 47-7 in the third quarter. Lions vet Matthew Stafford exited in the first half.