TAMPA, Fla. -- Commanders Edge Buccaneers in Wild-Card Thriller to Keep Dream Season Alive

The Washington Commanders are making it clear: they’re ahead of schedule. With a knack for late-game heroics, Washington earned a dramatic 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round, marking their first postseason win since the 2005 playoffs.

Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal sealed the win, capping an impressive turnaround season for Washington, which improved by eight wins from last year’s 4-13 record. Under first-year coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders finished the regular season 12-5, riding a five-game winning streak into the playoffs. Their resilience in "winning moments" has been the hallmark of their success.

The Commanders’ defense stepped up to contain Tampa’s high-powered offense, holding them to just 284 total yards. Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels showcased poise beyond his years in his first playoff outing.

Key Moments for the Commanders

Pivotal Play: Facing fourth-and-goal from Tampa's 5-yard line with 9:46 remaining, Daniels delivered a clutch touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin, giving Washington a 20-17 lead. The score was McLaurin's 11th red-zone touchdown of the season, matching his total from the previous five years combined. The opportunity was set up by linebacker Bobby Wagner’s recovery of a Baker Mayfield fumble at the Tampa 13.

QB Performance: Daniels played like a seasoned veteran, completing 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns while adding 36 rushing yards on 13 carries. His ability to keep plays alive with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield was critical, including a key third-down conversion deep in Commanders’ territory.

Troubling Trend: Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, acquired midseason, struggled against elite receivers. After three pass interference penalties against Philadelphia's A.J. Brown in Week 16, Lattimore was beaten multiple times by Mike Evans, who tallied 73 yards and a touchdown with Lattimore as the nearest defender.

Bucs Fall Short Despite Strong Effort

Tampa Bay had a chance to take control late but opted for a conservative approach.

Pivotal Decision: With 4:45 left, the Buccaneers chose to kick a field goal on fourth-and-3 from Washington's 14, tying the game at 20-20. ESPN Analytics suggested going for it was the better call, with a higher win probability (46.1%) compared to the field goal (43.6%). After tying the game, Tampa's defense allowed Washington to march downfield for the game-winning kick.

Game Plan Flaw: Tampa's defense couldn’t get key stops. The Commanders converted 8-of-15 third downs, including a crucial run by Daniels in the final minute. The Bucs’ zone defense also struggled against in-breaking routes, leading to significant gains by McLaurin and Dyami Brown.

Surprising Performance: Mike Evans had a dominant night against Lattimore, catching all five targets for 73 yards and a touchdown. It was Evans' second-best performance against Lattimore in their storied rivalry, trailing only his 115-yard outing in 2018.

Washington advances with momentum on their side, while Tampa Bay will reflect on missed opportunities in a tightly contested battle.