Commanders kicker kicks game-winning field goal through post to beat Buccaneers in Wild Card round
This game will forever be known as “Divisional Doink” for Commanders from Washingtonas Zane Gonzalez hit a field goal to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, 23-20, he got a little help from the post.
Getting the ball with 4:41 left to play in the fourth quarter after the Bucs tied the game with a field goal at 20 apiece, Jayden Daniels and the Commander offense was methodical in their drive, knowing that burning the right amount of clock could end up with a game-winning field goal at the buzzer.
There were several key plays to keep it alive, including Daniels finding Dyami Brown, who scored the game’s first touchdown, for a 21-yarder on 3rd-and-6 to keep possession. Then, with 55 seconds remaining, Daniels ran four yards on third-and-2 from Tampa Bay’s 19-yard line, setting up a game-tying opportunity.
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Washington Commanders’ Zane Gonzalez, right, is congratulated by his teammates after making the game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
When Gonzalez went in for that 37-yarder, he immediately went right, and every Bucs fan in Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium was hoping he wouldn’t crack the goalposts. But when the bell rang near the right goal post, it went for three points and a win to advance to the divisional round.
It’s Washington’s first playoff win since 2005, and it came off another gutsy performance from the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Daniels cemented his role as the team’s franchise quarterback with a stellar regular season, but he didn’t back down under the pressure of the playoffs on the road against a Bucs team that destroyed Philadelphia Eagles at home just a season ago in the same round.
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Daniels, however, was calm and composed, going 24-for-35 for 268 yards with two touchdown passes, including one to Terry McLaurin that came after quite simply the most important moment of the game.
The Bucs defense got a fantastic quarter-and-goal stop to turn the Commanders over on downs at their own three-yard line. But just four plays later, Baker Mayfield botched what appeared to be a fake handoff to rookie receiver Jalen McMillan. The ball hit McMillan’s hand and went to the floor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, fumbles the ball, which was returned by Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
It was the Commanders who recovered at the Tampa Bay 11-yard line, and Daniels made the Bucs pay with a five-yard pass to McLaurin on fourth-and-2 to take the lead.
The Bucs failed to capitalize on another trip to the red zone on the ensuing drive, settling for the game-tying field goal on fourth-and-3 from Washington’s 14-yard line. But they didn’t want to see the ball again thanks to Daniels and his offense.
Mayfield was just 15-for-18 for 185 yards with two touchdowns, while Bucky Irving rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries. Mike Evans had the team’s first touchdown as part of his seven-catch, 92-yard day.
Meanwhile, Brown and McLaurin each had 89 receiving yards on the night.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
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The Chiefs will have a tough task in the Divisional Round, as they will travel to Detroit to face the top-seeded Lions as their sixth seed is lower than the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Rams and the fifth-seeded Minnesota Vikings. , who play the final wild card game on Monday night.
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