-1.9 C
Washington
Monday, January 13, 2025

Jayden Daniels leads Commanders to first playoff win in practically 7,000 days, 23-20 over the Buccaneers

WashingtonJayden Daniels leads Commanders to first playoff win in practically 7,000 days, 23-20 over the Buccaneers

TAMPA, Fla. — Jayden Daniels ran for a crucial first right down to arrange Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard subject objective that clanged off the fitting upright and went by means of as time expired, and the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in an NFC wild-card recreation Sunday night time for the franchise’s first playoff win in 6,945 days.

Daniels, enjoying with a bandage beneath his proper eye after his face was bloodied, turned the third rookie quarterback in three years to win a playoff recreation.

The Commanders (13-5) will face the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions (15-2) within the divisional spherical.

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (10-8) missed a number of alternatives and the veteran quarterback dedicated a expensive turnover within the fourth quarter. The Bucs couldn’t get 1 yard on two tries from the Commanders 12 and settled for a subject objective to tie the sport earlier than Washington’s successful drive.

Daniels threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, becoming a member of C.J. Stroud and Brock Purdy as rookie QBs to win playoff video games previously three seasons.

Washington hadn’t gained within the postseason since beating the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay 17-10 in a wild-card recreation on Jan. 7, 2006.

The Buccaneers opened the season with a 37-20 victory at dwelling in opposition to the Commanders in Daniels’ first recreation. Daniels went on to have an excellent season, was chosen to the Professional Bowl and helped Washington enhance from 4-13 to 12-5.

Now, he has them headed to Detroit to face Jared Goff and the Lions’ high-octane offense.

After Tampa Bay’s protection held contained in the 5 within the opening minute of the fourth quarter to protect a 17-13 lead, Mayfield gave the Commanders the ball proper again when he fumbled an change on a handoff to Jalen McMillan. Washington recovered on the Buccaneers 13. On fourth-and-2 from the 5, Daniels linked with Terry McLaurin behind the tip zone for a 20-17 lead.

Mayfield drove the Buccaneers to a second-and-1 on the Commanders 12 however they settled for a 32-yard subject objective by Chase McLaughlin that tied it at 20-20 with 4:41 left.

The Bucs by no means acquired the ball again, due to Daniels, who calmly led his crew downfield. With lower than a minute left, he was hit behind the road of scrimmage however scrambled for 4 yards on third-and-2, permitting him to take a knee to arrange Gonzalez’s successful kick.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn beforehand handed up quick subject objectives on fourth down twice and the offense didn’t convert earlier than McLaurin’s TD catch.

On fourth down from the Buccaneers 4 lower than a minute into the fourth quarter, Daniels threw incomplete. He was pressured and threw incomplete on fourth-and-2 from Tampa Bay’s 20 on Washington’s first possession of the sport.

Mayfield tossed a 4-yard TD cross to Bucky Irving to offer the Buccaneers a 17-13 lead within the third quarter. On the earlier play, 350-pound defensive sort out Vita Vea was Mayfield’s meant receiver, however the QB acquired sacked for a 2-yard loss.

Mayfield fired a 1-yard TD cross to Mike Evans to tie it at 10 late within the first half.

Gonzalez kicked a 22-yard subject objective to offer Washington a 13-10 lead on the opening drive of the second half. The Commanders had a primary down on the 3 however Tampa Bay’s protection held.

After Austin Ekeler ran 2 yards on fourth-and-1 from the Buccaneers 23 late within the first quarter, the Commanders went forward a number of performs later to finish a 92-yard drive. Daniels, along with his face bloodied, tossed a 10-yard TD cross to Dyami Brown for a 7-3 lead.

A holding name on cornerback Zyon McCollum negated a third-down sack by Yaya Diaby and allowed Washington to increase its subsequent drive that ended with Gonzalez nailing a 50-yarder for a 10-3 lead.

McLaughlin kicked a 50-yard subject objective on the opening drive. The Buccaneers have been 9-1 after they scored first within the common season.

Check out our other content

Check out other tags:

Most Popular Articles