The game will forever be known as the “Divisional Doink”. Washington CommandersLike Zane Gonzalez’s field goal to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in the wild card round, the goal post got a little help.
Getting the ball with 4:41 to play in the fourth quarter when the Bucs tied it with a field goal at 20 per second, Jaden Daniels And the Commanders’ offense was methodical with their drives, knowing that burning the right amount of clock could end in a game-winning field goal at the buzzer.
There were a few key plays on the drive to keep it alive, including Daniels finding Demi Brown, who scored the game’s first touchdown, on 3rd and 6 for 21 yards to continue possession. Then, with 55 seconds left, Daniels scampered for four yards on third-and-2 from Tampa Bay’s 19-yard line, putting the game away.
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When Gonzalez stepped in for the 37-yard kick, it immediately started going right, and every Bucks fan in Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium hoped it wouldn’t split the uprights. But when it bounced off the right goal post, it earned three points and a victory to advance to the divisional round.
It’s the first playoff win for Washington since 2005, and it comes off another spirited performance from the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Daniels cemented his role as the team’s franchise quarterback with a strong regular season, but he didn’t buckle under the playoff pressure on the road against a Bucs team that Philadelphia Eagles On their home turf just a season ago in the same round.
The Eagles are handling the Packers in the wild card round to advance to the NFL playoffs
Daniels, though, was calm and collected, going 24-for-35 for 268 yards with two touchdown passes, including one to Terry MacLauren that was easily the most important moment of the game. had come
The Bucs defense got a great stop on fourth-and-goal to put the Commanders on a fumble at their own three-yard line. But just four plays later, Baker Mayfield attempted a fake handoff to receiver Jalen McMillan. The ball hit McMillan’s arm and rolled to the floor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, fumbles the ball as Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner fumbles in the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. was exported during (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
It was the Commanders who recovered at Tampa Bay’s 11-yard line, and Daniels made the Bucks pay with a five-yard pass to McLaurin on fourth-and-2.
The Bucs were unable to capitalize on another red-zone trip on the ensuing drive, electing to kick the game-tying field goal on fourth-and-3 from Washington’s 14-yard line. But they won’t see the ball again thanks to Daniels and his offense.
Mayfield was 15-for-18 for 185 yards with two touchdowns, while Bucky Irving rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries. Mike Evans scored the team’s first touchdown as part of his seven-catch, 92-yard day.
Meanwhile, Brown and McLaurin had 89 receiving yards on the night.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
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The Commanders will have a tough task in the divisional round, as they will travel to Detroit to take on the No. 1 seeded Lions as their No. 6 seed is down from the No. 4 Los Angeles Rams and the No. 5 Minnesota Vikings. who play in the final wild card game on Monday night.
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