The Washington Commanders are on their strategy to the divisional spherical for the primary time for the reason that 2005 season because of Sunday’s 23-20 wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It got here right down to a game-winning 37-yard discipline purpose from Zane Gonzalez that doinked in off the right upright as time expired.
Listed below are some takeaways from the Commanders’ win.
Kneejerk response: Lastly a aggressive recreation this postseason
Soccer followers, as a collective group, owe an enormous thanks to the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for lastly giving us a aggressive recreation on wild-card weekend.
After the primary 4 video games have been all double-digit blowouts, none of which appeared even remotely aggressive, the Commanders and Buccaneers performed an exhilarating, shut recreation that got here right down to the wire. It’s what you need to see from an NFL playoff recreation as each quarterbacks (Jayden Daniels and Baker Mayfield) had sturdy moments, there was good protection, big-time teaching selections (like Washington’s Dan Quinn constantly going for it on fourth down) and tense moments.
It additionally got here right down to literal inches on the buzzer as Gonzalez’s discipline purpose doinked its means by means of the uprights.
All the things you would need in a playoff recreation.
Recreation MVP: Jayden Daniels, quarterback, Washington Commanders
The true story of this recreation was Washington’s rookie quarterback sensation enjoying like, properly, something however a rookie.
Daniels seemed like a seasoned professional in his first style of playoff motion, finishing 24-of-35 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and in addition operating for 36 yards on 13 carries.
That included a game-winning drive to arrange the Commanders’ profitable discipline purpose.
On that drive he confirmed off his athleticism and skill to make performs along with his ft in one of many largest potential conditions. With the Commanders dealing with a Third-and-2 with beneath a minute to play within the fourth quarter, Washington put the ball in Daniels’ fingers and allowed him to make a play.