The Washington Football Team may have lost their Wild Card game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the team will not forget how Taylor Heinicke suit up on short notice and played his heart out against Tom Brady.
With starting quarterback Alex Smith a late scratch after experiencing soreness in his calf, Heinicke was suddenly put into the spotlight. Despite his lack of experience though, he still managed to impress and even gave Brady a showdown to remember.
Considering the way he played, his Washington teammate Terry McLaurin made sure to give Heinicke the credit he is due after their 31-23 defeat. As they leave the field and head to the locker room, McLaurin stopped the 27-year-old QB and acknowledged his effort.
Terry McLaurin stops Taylor Heinicke before they leave the field. pic.twitter.com/0lhoXqmdZw
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 10, 2021
Taylor Heinicke played in only one regular season game for the Washington Football Team in the 2020 season, which was during Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers. Despite the situation, he put out an impressive performance against the Buccaneers and finished the contest with one touchdown. He completed 26 of his 44 pass attempts, gaining 306 yards in the process.
While Washington failed in the end, it was undoubtedly an experience to remember for the signal-caller–one which should help him as he tries to move up the ranks in the NFL. Given the way he played, it won't be surprising to see him get more chances with Washington or any other team moving forward.
For his part, Brady finished the contest with two touchdowns, completing 22 of his 40 passes for 381 yards.