Washington Commanders Advance to Divisional Round with Thrilling 23-20 Win Over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Washington Commanders will forever be known as the “Divisional Doink” after Zane Gonzalez’s game-winning field goal in the Wild Card Round, 23-20, got a little help from the goal post. With 4:41 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Commanders’ offense was methodical with their drive, knowing that burning the right amount of clock could end in a game-winning field goal at the buzzer.
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense made crucial plays to keep the drive alive, including a 21-yard pass to Dyami Brown on 3rd-and-6 and a four-yard run by Daniels on 3rd-and-2 from Tampa Bay’s 19-yard line. When Gonzalez stepped into the 37-yard field goal attempt, it started going to the right and hit the right goalpost, going through for the three points and the victory.
This is the first playoff win for the Commanders since 2005, and it came from another gutsy performance by the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels went 24-for-35 for 268 yards with two touchdown passes, including one to Terry McLaurin, and was calm and collected under playoff pressure.
The Commanders will now head to Detroit to face the No. 1-seeded Lions in the Divisional Round, a tough task for the No. 6 seed.