In a game that will be etched in Washington Commanders' history as the "Divisional Doink," Zane Gonzalez's dramatic field goal bounced off the upright and through the posts to secure a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Wild Card Round. The stunning finish capped a methodical drive engineered by quarterback Jayden Daniels, who orchestrated a series of clutch plays to set up the game-winning kick.
With the score tied at 20 and just over four minutes remaining, Daniels connected with receiver Dyami Brown for a crucial 21-yard gain on third down, keeping the drive alive. He then iced the game with a key four-yard run on third-and-2, positioning Gonzalez for the decisive field goal attempt. As the clock ticked down, Gonzalez's 37-yard kick sailed towards the right upright, eliciting groans from the Tampa Bay faithful. However, the ball caromed off the post and sailed through, sending the Commanders to the Divisional Round and silencing the home crowd.
This victory marks Washington's first playoff win since 2005 and underscores Daniels' emergence as a franchise quarterback. The second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft exhibited poise under pressure, completing 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came after a pivotal turnover. The Buccaneers' defense had stopped the Commanders on fourth-and-goal at their own three-yard line. But on the ensuing possession, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield fumbled a handoff attempt, and Washington recovered deep in Tampa Bay territory. Daniels capitalized on the opportunity, finding Terry McLaurin for a five-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to reclaim the lead.
While the Buccaneers managed to tie the game with a field goal on their next drive, they were unable to stop Daniels and the Commanders' offense from marching down the field to set up Gonzalez's game-winning kick. Mayfield finished the game 15 of 18 for 185 yards and two touchdowns, while Mike Evans led the Buccaneers' receivers with seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. For the Commanders, both Brown and McLaurin tallied 89 receiving yards.
As the sixth seed, the Commanders face a challenging road ahead. They will travel to Detroit to take on the top-seeded Lions in the Divisional Round. The outcome of the remaining Wild Card game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings will determine the other Divisional Round matchups.
