The Washington Commanders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 Sunday night to win their first playoff game in 19 years.
Coincidently, they beat the team they faced in that last playoff win in 2006.
As the front runner for Rookie of the Year, Jaden Daniels led the team with 268 yards and two touchdowns with his arm. He was also a threat with his legs despite the Bucs’ heavy blitzing throughout the game.
Daniels’ legs set up the game-winning field goal for the Commanders by kicker Zane Gonzalez.
Daniels got help from a pair of his receivers, who made big plays throughout the game. Second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown each finished with 89 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Commanders’ defense was also big down the stretch of the game, coming up with key stops and a turnover that changed the tide of the game.
The collective team effort led to their first divisional round birth in a long time, and this is how they got to the nail-biting win.
The Commanders’ first possession ends in a turnover on downs
After a Buccaneers’ field goal on the game’s first drive, the Commanders’ offense moved the football on their first possession. Facing a third-and-six, Daniels connected with McLaurin on a drop-in-the-bucket throw for 35 yards to the Buccaneers’ 36-yard line. McLaurin made the catch with Tampa Bay cornerback Jamel Dean draped over him.
However, the Bucs’ defense stayed strong and forced a 4th-and-2 on their 20-yard line after linebacker LaVonte David tracked down Daniels on a run short of a first down. On fourth down, linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka got past Commander right tackle Andrew Wylie, causing Daniels to throw an incompletion.
Commanders get on the board with a 17-play touchdown drive
Despite the turnover on downs, the Commanders’ defense responded by killing the momentum with a third-down stop. Commanders defensive end Dorace Armstrong made key plays on the drive, including stopping Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield on a third-down scramble to force the punt.
Jayden Daniels completed four straight passes for 31 yards to start the possession, with Washington backing deep into its territory. During the drive on a rush attempt by Daniels, Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum hammered the rookie quarterback out of bounds. Daniels had a bloody face as a result of the hit.
Commanders 7, Buccaneers 3
Jayden Daniels’ bloody face
As the Commanders’ defense came off the field on the ensuing three-and-out, Daniels was seen with team trainers as they applied sterile glue to the gash on his face. Washington’s offense drove to the Bucs’ 33-yard line before settling for a 52-yard field goal from erratic kicker Zane Gonzalez.
Commanders 10, Buccaneers 3
Buccaneers wake up and score on back-to-back touchdown drives
The Bucs came into their next possession with scoring intentions before the half. A Mayfield 18-yard rush (3rd-and-9) inserted a bolt of energy into the rest of the team as he trucked future Hall-of-Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner before getting tackled.
Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans torched his rival, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, for three snaps. The first Evans caught a 20-yard pass over the middle over Lattimore to get Tampa Bay inside the red zone. Evans drew a defensive pass interference on Lattimore in the end zone on the next snap, setting up a 1st-and-goal from the one-yard line.
Evans punctuated the drive by catching a touchdown over Lattimore to tie the game at 10-10 just before halftime.
Buccaneers 10, Commanders 10
The Commanders opened the second half with possession of the football. Daniels found Brown on back-to-back big plays totaling 54 yards to get inside the Buccaneers’ three-yard line. Yet, running back Brian Robinson Jr. was stuffed on a first-down run. Two plays later, Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean broke up a potential touchdown pass to McLaurin on third-and-goal.
Gonzalez scored a 22-yard field goal, his second in the game, to put the Commanders back up.
The Buccaneers leaned heavily on its run game. Irving gained 43 yards through the ground on the drive. After a defensive holding penalty on Noah Igbinoghene set gave Tampa Bay a first down at the two-yard line, Irving hauled in a pass from Mayfield in the flat for a four-yard touchdown, giving Tampa Bay its second lead of the game.
Commanders 13, Buccaneers 17
Mayfield turns the ball over, after the Buccaneers defensive stop
Before the end of the third quarter, the Commanders marched right back with a drive of their own. The Commanders faced a third-and-10 at the start of the final quarter. Daniels targeted Brown again in the end zone. However, McCollum was called for a defensive pass interference, yielding the Commanders a 1st-and-goal at the one.
The Commanders failed to score on the drive despite being on the one-yard line. On fourth down, Daniels missed tight end Zach Ertz in the middle of the end zone. Officials missed a defensive holding on David, who grabbed Ertz at the top of his route.
For the second time in the game, the Commanders turned the football over on downs, leaving points off the scoreboard.
Yet, the Buccaneers turned the football over on the ensuing drive. Mayfield mishandled a handoff to wide receiver Julian McMillan. The ball squirted loose, and Wagner recovered it for Washington at the Bucs’ 13-yard line.
Despite the excellent field position, Washington faced another fourth down. However, this time, Daniels delivered with a touchdown pass to McLaurin.
Commanders 20, Buccaneers 17
Jayden Daniels leads offense to walk-off field goal
The Buccaneers responded by reaching the red zone on the ensuing possession. A mistimed snap from the center to Mayfield led to their drive stalling on third down. With a 3rd-and-1, it appeared the center snapped the ball before the rest of the offense was ready. The Commander’s defensive line penetrated as Mayfield frantically handed the ball off to Irving before a two-yard loss at the 14-yard line.
Tampa Bay settled for a field goal from Chase McLaughlin to tie the game at 20-20 with 4:41 left in the fourth quarter.
The Commanders offense then marched 51 yards on ten plays down to the Buccaneers’ 19-yard line. The drive took a lot of time off the clock. Facing a 3rd-and-2, Daniels broke away a would-be tackle to get up the field for a four-yard gain and a crucial first down.
Commanders fans chanted “MVP” toward Jayden Daniels inside Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. With three seconds left, Gonzalez doinked a 37-yard field through the uprights as time expired to give the Commanders the win.
Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20
The Commanders held the ball for the final 4:41 of the game. The field goal placed Washington into the divisional round of the playoffs. The Commanders will play the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Detroit Lions, at Ford Field on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 8:00 pm.
Key Stats
Commanders
- Passing: Jayden Daniels – 25/34, 268 yds, 2 TDs
- Rushing: Jayden Daniels – 13 att, 36 yds
- Receiving: Terry McLaurin – 7 rec, 89 yds, TD | Dyami Brown – 5 rec, 89 yds, TD
- Defensive: Bobby Wagner – 8 tck, 0.5 sacks
Buccaneers
- Passing: Baker Mayfield – 15/18, 185 yds, 2 TDs
- Rushing: Bucky Irving – 17 att, 77 yds
- Receiving: Mike Evans – 7 rec, 92 yds, 1 TD
- Defensive: Lavonte David – 8 tck, 1 sack
