The Washington Commanders secured their first playoff win since 2005, after kicker Zane Gonzalez doinked a game-winning field goal to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on Sunday night. The Commanders will head next to Detroit to face the top seeded Lions in the divisional round.
Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was the star of the night, as he has been for much of Washington’s turnaround season. He finished the night 24-of-35 passing for 268 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also serving as the teams leading rusher with 13 carries for 36 yards. Daniels joins Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, and Russell Wilson as the only rookie quarterbacks to win their first career playoff games on the road.
In his first NFL playoff game, the rookie quarterback delivered a performance that left no doubt he’s ready for the big stage. Despite facing intense pressure from a Tampa Bay defense that ranked sixth in the league for sacks, Daniels remained calm, cool, and collected throughout the game, using both his mobility and sharp decision-making to neutralize the Buccaneers’ defensive attack.
Daniels kicked off his postseason debut with a 92-yard, 17-play drive that chewed up over nine minutes of clock, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dyami Brown that gave Washington its first lead. But the rookie wasn’t done. In the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Daniels hit McLaurin for a five-yard touchdown on a crucial fourth-and-2, putting Washington ahead.
With less than five minutes left and the score tied at 20, Daniels orchestrated a game-winning drive, completing a key 21-yard pass to Brown and making a crucial scramble on third-and-1 to keep the chains moving. The 10-play, 51-yard march set up a game-clinching field goal by Zane Gonzalez.
Daniels finished his historic playoff debut with 268 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 36 rushing yards on 13 carries—the most by a quarterback in Washington’s postseason history. His performance secured Washington’s first playoff win by a rookie QB since 2012, showcasing his poise, athleticism, and playmaking ability when it mattered most.
Daniels’ composure and playmaking were the backbone of Washington’s victory, but he wasn’t alone in the spotlight. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin, fresh off his first All-Pro selection and coming off a career-best season, played a pivotal role in the win. Though McLaurin had playoff experience from Washington’s 2020 matchup with the Bucs, this game felt different—both for him and the team.
On the biggest stage with the biggest stakes, it makes sense that Daniels would look to the supremely skilled, reliable and clutch McLaurin for a team-high 10 targets. McLaurin continuously used his talents to finagle past coverage for the space needed to offer an option for Daniels. One of those times came on a downfield shot with two minutes left in the first quarter.
McLaurin would eventually cash in on a trip to the end zone, this time from a much shorter distance. For the second week in a row, the receiver came up big with a fourth-quarter touchdown, a five-yard catch on fourth-and-2 to leapfrog the Bucs. The touchdown was McLaurin’s first in a playoff game and extended his total on the season — the most for a wide receiver in a single season in franchise history — to 14.
On the defensive end, Bobby Wagner brought veteran leadership and skills that made a difference down in Tampa.
Though it may not have been one of the most explosive or singularly noteworthy moments, the linebacker dished out a hit within the first minute of the game that set the tone for Washington’s defense. Baker Mayfield had passed it off to Bucky Irving, and Wagner, like a heat-seeking missile, pounced on the running back and bulldozed him backward for no gain. He followed it up with another crushing hit on Irving, who could do nothing to contain the linebacker’s sheer power.
In the visitors’ locker room at Raymond James Stadium, every Commanders player made a commitment by signing a poster that said, “We will outhit every team we play.” Those two very early plays put the exact kind of action Dan Quinn & Co. undoubtedly wanted to see behind those words.
In addition to a team-high eight tackles on the night, Wagner also recorded a half-sack in the win, combining with Dorance Armstrong to bring down Baker Mayfield in the third. The 34-year-old’s most crucial play of the game, however, came in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers were on their 15-yard-line and a muffed handoff saw the ball loose on the ground. Wagner jumped on it to reclaim possession for Washington with excellent field position.
They don’t come around often, but occasionally, even the seasoned, future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner notches a “first” of his career. This was one of them. Wagner had never had a fumble recovery in the 17 postseason games he had played. What a time for it to come. The linebacker’s stats against Tampa made him the first Washington player with at least 0.5 sacks and one fumble recovery since at least 2000.
Washington’s had four kickers during the regular season, and Zane Gonzalez has been the guy for the Commanders ever since Austin Seibert went on IR at the end of November. He has fared well since then, making 100% of extra point attempts and 71% of field goal attempts.
In the tooth-and-nail type of fights that playoffs can be, Gonzalez’s job has a ramped-up intensity and microscope to it. Last night against Tampa, the kicker executed when pressure was at its highest. In the second quarter, he scored a 52-yard field goal, the longest field goal he had made since Week 8 of 2021, to give Washington a seven-point lead. His second field goal attempt — a 22-yarder in the third quarter — was also on the money.
Then, of course, there was the doink heard ’round the DMV in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 20. The Commanders’ offense had wound the clock down to three seconds, and the ball was on Tampa’s 19-yard line. All that remained between the Commanders and their first playoff win in a generation was Gonzalez putting this kick through the uprights. And that’s what he did. After ricocheting off the right upright, the ball went through. This 37-yard field goal, which made him the first kicker with at least field goals in a team playoff game since Chip Lohmiller in Super Bowl XXVI, ended the Buccaneers’ season and sent Washington to the Divisional round.
The excitement in Washington is undeniable right now. Fans, who have been waiting for this moment for years, are absolutely buzzing after the team’s big win. It’s been a long road, but the Commanders are finally showing what they’re capable of, and the city is all in on this team. From Daniels’ amazing performance to McLaurin’s clutch plays, the fans have plenty to be proud of. Now, with the Divisional Round ahead, Washington’s football faithful have a new sense of hope and anticipation. It’s a great time to be a fan of the Commanders!
