It took Tom Brady just one drive to account for his first passing touchdown of the Patriots' playoff game against the Chiefs on Saturday. It took him a little longer than he might've expected to gain entrance into the end zone using his legs, but late in the second quarter, Brady finally did score a rushing touchdown.
It took longer than expected because Brady thought he crossed over the plane on a 10-yard run from the Chiefs' 11-yard line, which ended with a punishing hit from Tyvon Branch.
Tom Brady takes a shot trying to score. pic.twitter.com/vVFTUGA4kW
— MarcusD (@_MarcusD_) January 16, 2016
After the officials ruled that Brady fell out of bounds just short of the goal line, Bill Belichick challenged the play, which cued Brady's celebration ...
LET'S GOOOO!!! pic.twitter.com/q8Q2ID9cam
— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2016
That celebration turned out to be premature. The ruling on the field did not get overturned, which, according to NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino, was the correct call.
On Brady play the ball has to cross inside or over pylon. Wasn't clear either way. Left foot hit OOB and ball may have been just short of GL
— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 16, 2016
But there was no doubt on the next play. Josh McDaniels handed Brady another chance and Brady snuck into the end zone, giving the Patriots an 11-point lead.
Plane: Broken pic.twitter.com/VnybGXastw
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 16, 2016
And, in the process, Brady moved up in the playoff record books with his sixth postseason rushing touchdown, tying some notable quarterbacks.
Brady now tied with Elway, McNair and Otto Graham with six postseason rushing TDs. Only person with more: Steve Young, with 8.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) January 16, 2016
Also of note, Brady moved ahead of running backs Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, Arian Foster, and Ray Rice. He's now tied with another notable rusher.
Brady now has as many career playoff rushing touchdowns as LaDainian Tomlinson.
— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) January 16, 2016
Brady already leads the NFL with 54 playoff passing touchdowns. Will he lead all quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns by the end of the Patiots' playoff run?