Tom Brady keeps seventh Super Bowl dream alive after edging battle of ageing quarter-backs

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Tom Brady kept alive hopes of winning a seventh Super Bowl of his career as he guided new side the Tampa Bay Bucaneers into the NFC Championship game. 

The 43-year-old got the better of long-term rival Drew Brees, at 42 just a year younger, in the latest showdown between the two all-time yardage leaders in NFL history. 

Brady scored a touchdown himself and threw two touchdown passes in a 30-20 victory over New Orleans Saints in what is expected to be Brees’ last game before retirement. 

The Bucaneers, whom Brady joined last year after leaving the New England Patriots, now face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. 

And Brady said: “The defence was the key to the game. It was huge. Our defence really balled out, got the turnovers we needed. It’s great for our team. We worked hard to get to this point. We’re going to be playing a great football team. Aaron Rodgers [the Packers’ quarter-back] is playing incredible.” 

The AFC Championship game, meanwhile, will be decided between defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. 

The Chiefs edged out the Cleveland Browns 22-17 after star quarter-back Patrick Mahomes suffered a concussion and the Chiefs had to play much of the latter half with stand-in quarter-back Chad Henne. 

But the Chiefs just stayed ahead to convert their 19-3 half-time advantage to another victory, and it is hoped Mahomes will be fit come Saturday. 

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said: “He’s actually doing very well. He’s feeling pretty good. He got hit in the back of the head and kind of knocked the wind out of him and everything else with it. He’s doing great right now. We’ll see where it goes from here.”  

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