Packers vs. Buccaneers live score, updates, highlights from NFC championship game

The NFC championship game between the Packers and Buccaneers features an all-time matchup at the quarterback position.

Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers are facing off for just the fourth time as starters in their respective careers, including the first time ever in a playoff contest. And all it took was for Brady to leave the Patriots for the NFC. Brady holds a 2-1 series advantage over his Packers counterpart, including a 38-10 win earlier this season in Week 6. That said, it’s Green Bay that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs, including the ever-important home-field advantage.

Neither player’s age seems to have slowed them down in 2020; Brady completed 401 of 610 passes (65.7 percent) for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Rodgers, meanwhile, completed 372 of 526 passes (70.7 percent) for 4,288 yards and 48 touchdowns to five interceptions.

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So, will Rodgers even the series and take the Packers to the Super Bowl for just the second time in his career? Or will Brady continue to cement his G.O.A.T. status with a win over another future Hall of Famer? We can’t wait to find out.

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Packers vs. Buccaneers on Sunday. Follow below for complete results from the 2021 NFC championship game.

Packers vs. Buccaneers score

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Packers	0	7	—	—	7
Buccaneers	7	0	—	—	7

Packers vs. Buccaneers live updates, highlights from NFC championship game

All times Eastern

Second quarter: Buccaneers 7, Packers 7

3:43 p.m.: Bucs take over at their 27.

3:40 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, GREEN BAY. One play later, Rodgers finds Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the 50-yard score. It looks as if the Bucs sold out for a short-yardage play, leaving the receiver one-on-one with Davis. He got a step on him and, despite the ball being underthrown, shrugged off the defense and did the rest of the work himself. That makes it 7-7 with 14:07 left in the half.

3:39 p.m.: Aaron Jones gets a 2-yard gain on the first play of the second quarter; that makes it third-and-2 from midfield.

End of first quarter: Buccaneers 7, Packers 0

3:35 p.m.: Rodgers’ 5-yard pass to tight end Robert Tonyan ends the first quarter. Packers will reverse field at their 48.

3:35 p.m.: Next play, Rodgers throws a quick pass to Davante Adams, who makes Carlton Davis miss for a 15-yard gain to the Packers 43.

3:33 p.m.: No matter; on the next play, Rodgers rolls out right — from inside his own end zone — and finds Allen Lazard for a 23-yard gain to the 28.

3:33 p.m.: Bucs get their second sack on Rodgers, this time for a 6-yard loss. Jason Pierre-Paul gets to him and makes it third-and-15 from the 5.

3:30 p.m.: Tavon Austin calls for a fair catch at the 10-yard line. Green Bay will start its drive with 2:56 left in the first.

3:30 p.m.: Finally, Green Bay gets off the field on third down. Kenny Clark gets the bull-rush sack on Brady to make it fourth-and-16 from the Bucs 43.

3:28 p.m.: Brady had his man in coverage but threw it a little high; Tyler Johnson couldn’t bring it down, however, and that brings up third-and-10.

3:26 p.m.: Bucs convert another third down — this time with 14 yards to gain — as Godwin takes the tunnel screen all the way to the Bucs 49. Tampa Bay is 5 for 5 on third downs so far.

3:24 p.m.: Bucs have it third-and-1 from the 36; that’s another conversion, this time off a 2-yard run by running back Ronald Jones.

3:20 p.m.: JK Scott’s punt travels only 38 yards and is touched down at the 27. The Bucs will look to go up two scores from there, with 7:33 left in the first.

3:20 p.m.: Packers have no such luck on third down; linebacker Shaq Barrett gets a coverage sack to fourth-and-17 from the 45.

3:19 p.m.: Packers face third down for the first time from their 43.

3:17 p.m.: Rodgers completes his first pass of the game to Marcedes Lewis for 14 yards and a first down out to the 42.

3:16 p.m.: Now it’s Rodgers and Co.’s turn. The Packers take over from their 25.

3:13 p.m.: That touchdown drive took nine plays, traversed 66 yards and took off 4:01 off the clock. Brady was 3 for 5 passing for 56 on the drive, including 3 for 3 on third down.

3:12 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, TAMPA BAY. Brady completes his third straight pass on third down, this one for a touchdown. He has a 15-yard connection with Evans to get on the board first. It’s 7-0 Bucs with 10:59 left in the first.

3:11 p.m.: Bucs have it third-and-7 from the 15 this time. Third time’s the charm for Green Bay?

3:10 p.m.: Brady completes his second third down-converting pass, this one 14 yards to Chris Godwin to the 18. Packers don’t have an answer for him yet.

3:09 p.m.: Another third down scenario, this one with 9 yards to gain from the Packers 32.

3:08 p.m.: Brady connects with Mike Evans with a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw for a 27-yard gain down to the Packers 33. The drive continues.

3:07 p.m.: Bucs face third-and-4 from the 40 after two runs of 3 yards apiece from Leonard Fournette.

3:06 p.m.: Jaydon Mickens gets a 29-yard return out to the 34. That’s where the Bucs will start the game.

3:03 p.m.: Green Bay wins the toss and defers, giving Brady and Co. the ball first. Here we go.

Packers vs. Buccaneers start time

Start time: 3:05 p.m. ET
TV channel (national): Fox
Live stream: Fox Sports Go | fuboTV

This is the first of Sunday’s two conference championship games. The NFC championship will be followed by Chiefs vs. Bills in the AFC championship. The winner of those two games will advance to Super Bowl 55.