American football: Super Bowl champs fail to make NFL play-offs

REIGNING Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearly dug themselves out of a huge hole, but finally saw their NFL playoff hopes buried in a 30-28 loss to Atlanta at the weekend.

Needing to win their final two games and receive help to make the playoffs, Tampa Bay trailed 30-7 after three quarters before nearly coming all the way back.

“I am very proud of our football team - the character they showed in the last 15 minutes of the game,” Bucs coach Jon Gruden said.