Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) – Washington Commanders (6): 20-23
The Commanders scored a last-second field goal to win their first-round playoff game against the Buccaneers.
Facing a good Jayden Daniels (24/35, 268 yards, 2 TDs), the Buccaneers paid for their lack of efficiency and their rare errors.
The key moment: post coming in!
It took until the last second for this match to find its winner. Zane Gonzalez hit a 37-yard kick that bounced off the right post before passing and being validated by the referees. Enough to give victory to Washington.
But more than the kick, it is the entire last possession which is to the credit of the men of the capital. Thanks in particular to an omnipresent Austin Ekeler (8 races, 27 yards – 3 rec, 26 yards), the Commanders monopolized the ball for the last 4 minutes and 41 seconds.
The MVP: Jayden Daniels
Best passer and best runner on his team. Not bad for a first in the playoffs. Above all, Jayden Daniels showed his usual composure, even in the most important match of his career. He didn't lose the ball, and he responded in hot moments. The highlight was a 5-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin (7 rec, 89 yards, 1 TD) a little less than 10 minutes from the end, on a fourth attempt while his team was trailing. Just that.
Daniels also went for a capital first down on the last possession. This time it was on the ground, on a third attempt.
The flop: Baker Mayfield loses the clutch battle
Baker Mayfield's overall performance (15/18, 185 yards, 2 TDs) is far from being a flop. The quarterback did what he could to help his team. But the ball that slipped out of his hands in the fourth quarter was very costly. It's the only loss of the ball of the evening. She gave the ball back to the Commanders just 13 yards from the Tampa end zone, and Daniels took the opportunity to put her team in front right away.
The stat: 2006
The last time the Commanders won a playoff game, they didn't have the same name, America was led by George W Bush and Zinedine Zidane was still a football player. At the time, Washington had beaten… the Buccaneers, in a Wild Card game. It was January 7, 2006. Over 19 years ago.
The match film
After a Buccaneers field goal, the Commanders are aggressive. They attempt a 4th&2 on opposing territory. But Daniels' pass to Ekeler is incomplete. Nothing that demoralizes the young people of Washington. After a defensive stop, they kept the ball for more than 9 minutes before a touchdown from Dyami Brown (5 rec, 89 yards, 1 TD).
After another possession of more than 5 minutes, the visitors even took a 10-3 advantage after a 52-yard field goal. Tampa wakes up two minutes before the break, moving up the field in 7 actions, with Mike Evans (7 rec, 92 yards, 1 TD) at the conclusion. At the break, the two teams are tied (10-10).
Tampa concedes a field goal after the locker room (10-13), but responds with a touchdown from Bucky Irving (17 races, 77 yards) to take its first advantage of the match (17-13). The match even seemed to turn around when the Floridians stopped Washington on a 4th attempt 3 yards from the end zone in the process! But Baker Mayfield lets the ball escape a few moments later! Washington sanctions with Daniels' touchdown for McLaurin, on another fourth attempt (17-20)!
There is still time, but Tampa fails on a very short third and settles for a field goal to equalize (20-20). Mayfield and his teammates will never see the ball again. The Commanders eat up the clock and score the winning kick. With a little help from the post.
And now ?
Head to the Divisional Round for the Commanders. It will be a trip to Detroit to face the Lions. The meeting is already scheduled for the night of Saturday to Sunday at 2 a.m. In France, the meeting will be broadcast free of charge on W9.
After a valiant season, the Buccaneers faltered in hot moments, which had not scared them until then. At least the Pirates know they have a good captain in Baker Mayfield.
