Washington Commanders 23-20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jayden Daniels leads Commanders to first playoff win in 19 years | NFL News


Zane Gonzalez hit a dramatic 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 ricocheted to the right and passed, to give Washington its first playoff win 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) set up a date with the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions ( 15-2) in the divisional round.

Washington Commanders linebacker, center, is congratulated by teammates after making a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL playoff game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/ Jason Behnken)
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Zane Gonzalez (center) kicks the game-winning field goal for the Washington Commanders

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (10-8) missed several opportunities, and the veteran quarterback made a costly mistake in the fourth quarter. The Bucs failed to gain a yard on two attempts 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 starting QBs to win playoff games the past three seasons as Washington made the postseason for the first time since 2006.

The commanders set up a lion showdown

The Buccaneers opened the season with a 37-20 win at home against the Commanders in Daniels' first game. Daniels had an outstanding season, was selected to the Pro Bowl and helped Washington improve from 4-13 to 12-5.

Now he's headed them to Detroit to face Jared Goff and the Lions' high-octane offense.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates after an NFL playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
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Jayden Daniels celebrated the extension of the NFL season

“That means a lot, man,” Daniels said. “You could just see all the fans here, man, they're waiting for us. They've been waiting a long time for this moment and this feeling, so I'm so happy for them.”

After Tampa Bay's defense held inside the box in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to preserve a 17-13 lead, Mayfield gave the Commanders the ball back when he fumbled a handoff to Jalen McMillan.

Washington recovered at the Buccaneers 13. On fourth-and-two from the 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 (13) tackles Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin, bottom right, and linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., foreground left, during the second half of an NFL playoff football game in Tampa, Fla. . , Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans tackles Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin, bottom right, and linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., foreground left, during the second half

Mayfield brought the Buccaneers to a second-and-one at the Commanders 12, but they settled for Chase McLaughlin's 32-yard field goal to tie the game 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 left, he was hit behind the line of scrimmage but scrambled four yards on third-and-two, allowing him to kneel to set up Gonzalez's game-winning touchdown.

What next?

Wild Card Weekend concludes Monday night when the Minnesota Vikings face off against the Los Angeles Rams at 1 a.m. in the early hours of Tuesday.

The divisional round begins next weekend, with the Chiefs traveling to play the Lions on Saturday night (Sunday 1am UK), after the Houston Texans face the Kansas City Chiefs (9.30pm UK).

Super Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, live on Sky Sports NFL. Stream the NFL and more top sports with NOW.



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