WASHINGTON (7News) — In their first playoff game in four years, the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23 to 20 keeping their season alive.
It’s the Commanders’ first playoff win since 2005. Washington kicker Zane Gonzalez kicked the game-winning field goal with no time on the clock.
In a rare move, Tampa Bay won the toss and elected to receive. On the Buc’s first offensive possession, Quarterback Baker Mayfield led the offense down the field with a pair of passes to Mike Evans. Tampa Bay would settle for a 50-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin to take the 3-0 lead.
On Washington’s first drive, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels connected on a deep ball to Terry McLaurin, putting the Commanders in field goal range. However, the drive would stall when Washington could not convert on 4th and 2. Tampa Bay maintained their 3-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Washington went on a 17-play, 92-yard drive taking up 9:08 seconds on the clock. Daniels found a wide-open Dyami Brown in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. The Commanders grab their first lead of the game, 7-3.
Another lengthy Commanders’ drive would result in points. Before the half, kicker Zane Gonzalez would cap off an 11-play, 5:28 drive with a 52-yard field goal, the longest of his Washington career. The Commanders led 10-3 with under two minutes remaining in the half.
With the clock against them, the Bucs stood up to the challenge at the end of the first half. With under two minutes to work with, Mayfield and the offense went 74 yards in seven plays. As Marshon Lattimore and Mike Evans continued to battle, Evans got the better of Lattimore, reeling in a tough catch from a one-yard out to give Tampa Bay its first touchdown of the night. By the end of the half, the score sat tied at 10.
Washington settled for a field goal on their opening drive of the second half to retake the lead. Tampa though would respond on their first possession of the second half. Mayfield found Bucky Irving in the flat for a short touchdown. The Bucs go on top, 17-13.
In the fourth quarter, the Commanders had first and goal from the one-yard line and they didn’t score. Daniels was looking for Zach Ertz on 4th and goal, but it was incomplete. The score remained, 17-13 with Tampa in the lead.
After a Mayfield fumble, the first turnover of the game, Washington cashed that turnover into points. 4th and 2 from the five, Daniels finding McLaurin in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. The Commanders grab the lead again, 20-17.
On Tampa’s next drive, they would have to settle for a field goal, tying the game 20-20.