Zane Gonzalez kicked a spectacular 37-yard field goal off the post as time expired to see the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in a thrilling NFL wild card game.
Jayden Daniels ran for a critical first down to set up Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal attempt, which clanged off the right upright and passed, to give Washington its first playoff victory in 6,945 days.
Daniels, playing with a bandage under his right eye after his face was bloodied, became the third rookie quarterback in three years to win a playoff game, as the Commanders (13-5) hosted a meeting with the Detroit Lions , seeded n°1. 15-2) in the divisional round.
Jayden Daniels celebrated the Commanders’ extended NFL season
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (10-8) missed several chances and the veteran quarterback committed a costly turnover in the fourth quarter. The Bucs couldn’t get a yard on two tries from the Commanders 12 and settled for a field goal to tie the game before Washington’s game-winning drive.
Daniels threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, joining CJ Stroud and Brock Purdy as rookie QBs to win playoff games the past three seasons, as Washington won in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Commanders stage showdown with Lions
The Buccaneers opened the season with a 37-20 home victory over the Commanders in Daniels’ first game. Daniels had a breakout season, was selected to the Pro Bowl and helped Washington go from 4-13 to 12-5.
Now he sends them to Detroit to face Jared Goff and the Lions’ high-octane offense.
“It means a lot, man,” Daniels said. “You could just see all the fans here, man, they’re waiting for us. They’ve waited a long time for this moment and this feeling, so I’m so happy for them.”
After Tampa Bay’s defense held inside the five in the first minute of the fourth quarter to maintain a 17-13 lead, Mayfield gave the ball back to the Commanders when he botched a trade on a handoff to Jalen McMillan.
Washington recovered at the Buccaneers 13. On fourth-and-2 from five, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin in the back of the end zone for a 20-17 lead.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is squared off against Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin, lower right, and linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., front left, during the second half.
Mayfield led the Buccaneers to a second-and-1 at the Commanders 12, but they settled for a 32-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin that tied it at 20-20 with 4:41 left.
The Bucs never got the ball back, thanks to Daniels, who calmly led his team down the field. With less than a minute to play, he was hit behind the line of scrimmage but ran four yards on third-and-2, allowing him to take a knee to set up Gonzalez’s game-winning kick.
And then?
Wild Card Weekend ends Monday night when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Los Angeles Rams starting at 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The Divisional Round begins next weekend, with the Commanders traveling to face the Lions on Saturday night (Sunday at 1am UK time), after the Houston Texans take on the Kansas City Chiefs ( 9:30 p.m. UK time).
Super Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday, February 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, live on Sky Sports NFL. Stream NFL and other top sports with NOW.
