This recreation will ceaselessly be referred to as the “Divisional Doink” for the Washington Commanders, as Zane Gonzalez’s area purpose to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the Wild Card Spherical, 23-20, obtained somewhat assist from the purpose publish.
Getting the ball with 4:41 left to play within the fourth quarter after the Bucs tied it with a area purpose at 20 apiece, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense have been methodical with their drive, figuring out that burning the correct quantity of clock might finish in a game-winning area 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 capable of run for 4 yards on third-and-2 from Tampa Bay’s 19-yard line, icing the possibility to finish the sport.
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Washington Commanders place kicker Zane Gonzalez, proper, is congratulated by teammates after kicking the sport successful area purpose towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff soccer recreation in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photograph/Chris O’Meara)
When Gonzalez stepped into that kick from 37 yards out, it began instantly going to the best, 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 best goalpost, it went via 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 total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Daniels has solidified his function because the staff’s franchise quarterback with an amazing common season, however he didn’t fold beneath playoff stress on the highway towards a Bucs staff that demolished the Philadelphia Eagles on their dwelling 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 improbable 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 gave the impression to be a pretend 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, throughout the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff soccer recreation in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photograph/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 cross to McLaurin on fourth-and-2 to take the lead.
The Bucs weren’t capable of money in on one other pink zone journey on the following drive, opting to kick a game-tying area purpose on fourth-and-3 from Washington’s 14-yard line. However they wouldn’t see the ball once more because of 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 throughout the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff soccer recreation in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jason Behnken)
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The Commanders may have a tricky process 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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