This recreation will ceaselessly be referred to as the “Divisional Doink” for the Washington Commanders, as Zane Gonzalez’s subject purpose to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the Wild Card Spherical, 23-20, obtained somewhat assist from the purpose put up.
Getting the ball with 4:41 left to play within the fourth quarter after the Bucs tied it with a subject purpose at 20 apiece, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense had been methodical with their drive, figuring out that burning the correct amount of clock might finish in a game-winning subject purpose on the buzzer.
There have been a number of essential performs on the drive to maintain it alive, together with Daniels discovering Dyami Brown, who scored the sport’s first landing, for a 21-yard on Third-and-6 to proceed proudly owning the ball. Then, with 55 seconds left, Daniels was in a position to run for 4 yards on third-and-2 from Tampa Bay’s 19-yard line, icing the prospect to finish the sport.
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Washington Commanders place kicker Zane Gonzalez, proper, is congratulated by teammates after kicking the sport successful subject purpose towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff soccer recreation in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
When Gonzalez stepped into that kick from 37 yards out, it began instantly going to the fitting, and each Bucs fan at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay hoped it wouldn’t break up the uprights. However when it rang off the fitting goalpost, it went by means of for the three factors and the victory to maneuver on to the Divisional Spherical.
That is the primary playoff win for Washington since 2005, and it got here from one other gutsy efficiency by the No. 2 general choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Daniels has solidified his position because the staff’s franchise quarterback with an amazing common season, however he didn’t fold beneath playoff strain on the street towards a Bucs staff that demolished the Philadelphia Eagles on their residence turf only a season in the past in the identical spherical.
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Daniels, although, was calm and picked up, going 24-for-35 for 268 yards with two landing passes, together with one to Terry McLaurin which got here after fairly simply probably the most pivotal second of the sport.
The Bucs’ protection obtained a unbelievable fourth-and-goal cease to show the Commanders over on downs on their very own three yard line. However simply 4 performs later, Baker Mayfield botched what seemed to be a faux handoff to rookie receiver Jalen McMillan. The ball hit McMillan’s arm and went to the ground.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, fumbles the ball, which was recovered by Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, through the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff soccer recreation in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
It was the Commanders who recovered on Tampa Bay’s 11-yard line, and Daniels made the Bucs pay with a five-yard move to McLaurin on fourth-and-2 to take the lead.
The Bucs weren’t in a position to money in on one other purple zone journey on the following drive, opting to kick a game-tying subject purpose on fourth-and-3 from Washington’s 14-yard line. However they wouldn’t see the ball once more due to Daniels and his offense.
Mayfield was simply 15-for-18 for 185 yards with two touchdowns, whereas Bucky Irving rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries. Mike Evans had the staff’s first landing as a part of his seven-catch, 92-yard day.
In the meantime, Brown and McLaurin every had 89 receiving yards on the evening.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff soccer recreation in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Jason Behnken)
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The Commanders may have a troublesome job within the Divisional Spherical, as they are going to be heading to Detroit to face the No. 1-seeded Lions as their No. 6 seed is decrease than the No. 4 Los Angeles Rams and No. 5 Minnesota Vikings, who play the ultimate wild card recreation on Monday evening.
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