The sixth-seeded Washington Commanders faced the third-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC Wild Card game Sunday night, aiming for their first playoff win since 2005.
The game was tied at 10 at halftime and remained tightly contested in the second half. It was decided by Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal, securing a last-second 23-20 victory for Washington.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels demonstrated why he earned a Pro Bowl nod in his debut season. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns, adding 36 rushing yards on 13 carries.
After the win, the Commanders’ social media team posted a four-word statement as the team prepares to face the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Round.
“Next stop: Motor City,” they wrote.
The Commanders and Lions didn’t meet in the regular season, but both teams boast explosive offenses. Washington is fifth in scoring (28.5 points per game), while Detroit leads the league with 33.2 points per game.
