The Washington Commanders are on their approach to the divisional spherical for the primary time for the reason that 2005 season due to Sunday’s 23-20 wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It got here all the way down to a game-winning 37-yard discipline aim 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 sport 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 sport on wild-card weekend.
After the primary 4 video games had been all double-digit blowouts, none of which appeared even remotely aggressive, the Commanders and Buccaneers performed an exciting, shut sport that got here all the way down to the wire. It’s what you wish to see from an NFL playoff sport as each quarterbacks (Jayden Daniels and Baker Mayfield) had sturdy moments, there was good protection, big-time teaching selections (like Washington’s Dan Quinn persistently going for it on fourth down) and tense moments.
It additionally got here all the way down to literal inches on the buzzer as Gonzalez’s discipline aim doinked its means via the uprights.
All the pieces you may need in a playoff sport.
Recreation MVP: Jayden Daniels, quarterback, Washington Commanders
The true story of this sport was Washington’s rookie quarterback sensation taking part in like, nicely, something however a rookie.
Daniels appeared like a seasoned professional in his first style of playoff motion, finishing 24-of-35 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and likewise operating for 36 yards on 13 carries.
That included a game-winning drive to arrange the Commanders’ successful discipline aim.
On that drive he confirmed off his athleticism and skill to make performs along with his ft in one of many largest doable conditions. With the Commanders going through a Third-and-2 with underneath a minute to play within the fourth quarter, Washington put the ball in Daniels’ palms and allowed him to make a play.