Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into their first NFC Championship Game since 2003 with a 30-20 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Brady, 43, and Drew Brees, 42, were below their best in the highly anticipated NFC Divisional Round clash, but the Buccaneers got the job done late at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday.

The Buccaneers scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, with Brady's rushing touchdown capping the win and setting up a clash against the Green Bay Packers.

Brady went 18 of 33 for 199 yards and two touchdowns, while Brees threw three interceptions – including two in the fourth quarter – while completing 19 of 34 passes for one TD.

The Saints' four turnovers proved costly as the Buccaneers moved into the NFC Championship Game.

Trailing 6-3, the first touchdown of the game saw Brady find Mike Evans after Sean Murphy-Bunting intercepted Brees.

The Saints' response came through Jameis Winston, who threw a 56-yard TD pass to Tre'Quan Smith, and the teams were level at 13-13 at half-time.

JAMEIS WINSTON. 56-YARD TOUCHDOWN.#ForNOLA #NFLPlayoffs

: #TBvsNO on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/kJOiprK712 pic.twitter.com/lf8FVvOJib

— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2021

Brees and Brady traded TD passes in the third quarter to Smith and Leonard Fournette respectively, keeping the game level with a quarter to play.

Ryan Succop's 36-yard field goal put the Buccaneers 23-20 up and Devin White intercepted Brees to give Tampa Bay another chance, which Brady took.

 

Turning point – White steps up with well-timed interception

Brees and the Saints were looking to respond to Succop's fourth-quarter field goal, but instead gifted Tampa Bay an opportunity to extend their three-point lead as White intercepted the QB.

Devin White. Playmaker. #GoBucs #NFLPlayoffs @devinwhite__40

: #TBvsNO on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/kJOiprK712 pic.twitter.com/k7QjcsETLQ

— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2021

The Buccaneers made no mistake, and it was Brady rushing over from one yard to give his team a decisive 30-20 lead.

Brady gets it done again in Divisional Round

The Buccaneers' win saw Brady improve his record in the Divisional Round to 14-2.

The six-time Super Bowl champion may have been below his absolute best, but he still got it done, putting the Buccaneers into the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2003.

 of the QB sneak.@TomBrady extends the Bucs lead, 30-20. #GoBucs #NFLPlayoffs

: #TBvsNO on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/kJOiprK712 pic.twitter.com/7lHRcB2umz

— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2021

What's next?

Brady and the Buccaneers face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field on January 24.

For the Saints, meanwhile, there is plenty of talk about Brees' future amid reports the quarterback is set to retire.