This game will forever be known as the “Divisional Doink” for the Washington Commanders, as Zane Gonzalez’s field goal to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, 23-20, got a little help from the goal post.
When they got the ball with 4:41 left in the fourth quarter after the Bucs tied it with a 20-yard field goal, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense were methodical with their drive, knowing it could end up burning the right amount of clock. in a game-winning field goal at the buzzer.
There were a couple of crucial plays on the drive to keep it alive, including Daniels finding Dyami Brown, who scored the game’s first touchdown, for a 21-yarder on 3rd-and-6 to continue possession. Then, with 55 seconds left, Daniels was able to run for four yards on third-and-2 from Tampa Bay’s 19-yard line, giving the chance to end the game.
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Washington Commanders place kicker Zane Gonzalez, right, is congratulated by teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
When Gonzalez stepped in on that kick from 37 yards out, it immediately started going right, and every Bucs fan at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay was hoping it wouldn’t split the uprights. But when it rang off the right goal post, it went through for the three points and the win to advance to the divisional round.
This is the first playoff win for Washington since 2005, and it came from another gutsy performance by the overall No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Daniels has solidified his role as the team’s franchise quarterback with a stellar regular season, but he didn’t buckle under playoff pressure on the road against a Bucs team that tore apart the Philadelphia Eagles at home just a season ago in the same round.
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Daniels, however, was calm and collected, going 24-for-35 for 268 yards with two touchdown passes, including one to Terry McLaurin, who easily came after the game’s most defining moment.
The Bucs’ defense made a great fourth-and-goal stop to turn the Commanders over on downs at their own three-yard line. But just four plays later, Baker Mayfield botched what appeared to be a fake handoff to rookie receiver Jalen McMillan. The ball hit McMillan’s arm and went to the floor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, fumbles the ball, which was recovered by Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
It was the Commanders who recovered at Tampa Bay’s 11-yard line, and Daniels made the Bucs pay with a five-yard pass to McLaurin on fourth-and-2 to take the lead.
The Bucs were unable to capitalize on another red zone trip on the ensuing drive, opting to kick a game-tying field goal on fourth-and-3 from Washington’s 14-yard line. But they wouldn’t see the ball again thanks to Daniels and his offense.
Mayfield was just 15-for-18 for 185 yards with two touchdowns, while Bucky Irving rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries. Mike Evans had the team’s first touchdown as part of his seven-catch, 92-yard day.
Meanwhile, Brown and McLaurin each had 89 receiving yards on the night.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
The Commanders will have a tough task in the divisional round as they will be heading to Detroit to face the No. 1-seeded Lions, as their no. 6-seed is lower than no. 4 Los Angeles Rams and no. 5 Minnesota Vikings , who play the final wild card game on Monday night.
