(Sports Spectrum) When Los Angeles held a 27-3 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late in the third quarter of Sunday’s NFC divisional-round game, not many would have predicted that the Rams would need a miraculous last-minute 44-yard bomb from quarterback Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Cooper Kupp to win.
The No. 2-seeded Buccaneers, led by seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady, climbed all the way back with two touchdowns in the final three minutes to tie the game at 27 with 42 seconds remaining. As it turns out, it was just enough time for Kupp and the Rams (No. 4 seed).
The final drive started inauspiciously with a sack, but Stafford found Kupp for a quick 20-yard reception on the next play. That would set the stage for Kupp’s heroics. He found a hole down the middle and got behind the Bucs’ defense for an astonishing 44-yard gain down to the 12-yard line. The Rams spiked the ball with six seconds remaining, creating a chip-shot 30-yard field goal for kicker Matt Gay to send the Rams to the conference championship game.