Despite kicking a field goal to tie the game at 20-20 with under five minutes to go, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to get a stop in the final minutes to give themselves an opportunity to get the ball back or force overtime. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay was unable to stop Washington as the Commanders drove down the field to set up a field goal attempt by kicker Zane Gonzalez to win. The kick bounced off the upright and went through, giving the Commanders a 23-20 win and sending the Buccaneers into the offseason.
Tampa Bay started the game with the ball and after two passes by quarterback Baker Mayfield to wide receiver Mike Evans resulted in significant yards, the Buccaneers were quickly on the Commanders’ side of the field. But the Commanders were able to stop the Buccaneers after a three-yard run and two incomplete passes from Mayfield, forcing the Buccaneers to settle for a field goal. Kicker Chase McLaughlin nailed the 50-yard field goal to give Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead.
Washington responded with a solid drive of their own to get into Tampa Bay territory. But the Commanders’ offense stalled out and then went for it on fourth down. Quarterback Jayden Daniels targeted running back Austin Ekeler on a fourth-and-two at the Buccaneers’ 20-yard line, but the pass fell incomplete and led to a turnover on downs.
On Tampa Bay’s next drive, the Buccaneers were unable to get much going and were forced to punt. Starting off on their own eight, the Commanders got to work and began driving down the field. Washington continued to convert for first downs in the second quarter on Tampa Bay’s side of the field.
After a timeout by the Buccaneers, the Commanders were facing fourth down once again and this time they converted it with a two-yard run by Ekeler. On a third down from the 10-yard line, Daniels connected with wide receiver Dyami Brown for a touchdown to give Washington a 7-3 lead.
Getting the ball back, Tampa Bay hoped to respond to Washington’s touchdown drive. But the Buccaneers went three and out and were forced to punt once again. The Commanders took advantage of their next possession with a drive that lasted over five minutes and resulted in a field goal from 52 yards by Gonzalez as the Commanders extended the lead, 10-3.
Offensively, Tampa Bay finally woke back up after the two-minute warning as Mayfield commanded the team’s final drive of the first half. He scrambled for 18 yards on third down before connecting on passes to Evans and tight end Cade Otton.
The Buccaneers were then in position to score after Commanders’ cornerback Marshon Lattimore was called for pass interference. Evans then caught a touchdown from Lattimore on Mayfield as Tampa Bay tied the game, 10-10, going into halftime.
Kicking off the second half, Daniels led Washington on another scoring drive with passes completed to Brown and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. The drive was stifled by the Buccaneers’ defense, so the Commanders were forced to settle for a field goal once again as Gonzalez kicked one through from 22 yards out to make it 13-10.
Looking to respond, Tampa Bay did just that on their next possession. Eating up almost six minutes of the clock, the Buccaneers cashed in with a four-yard touchdown from Mayfield to running back Bucky Irving as Tampa Bay took the lead right back, 17-13.
Just like at the end of the first quarter, Washington pushed the ball down the field as this game headed into the fourth quarter. Unlike that drive that started off with a touchdown in the second quarter, this fourth quarter drive did not turn out as well for the Commanders. Even though the Commanders were as close as a yard away from scoring, the Buccaneers’ defense made four straight stops to force another turnover on downs.
Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, the offense turned the ball over as Mayfield fumbled when attempting to hand it off. Linebacker Bobby Wagner recovered Mayfield’s fumble for Washington to put the team in position to score again.
The Commanders took advantage of their great field position as Daniels threw a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Just like that, the Commanders led the Buccaneers 20-17 with under 10 minutes to go.
On their next possession, Mayfield and the offense regained some confidence and looked to tie the game up or take the lead. Mayfield had key passes to Otton and wide receiver Jalen McMillan, and Irving had a few significant runs that helped put Tampa Bay in position to tie the game. McLaughlin made a 32-yard field goal with less than five minutes left as the game was deadlocked at 20-20.
But Washington had one more drive in them to close this game. Daniels, despite being a rookie, methodically moved the offense closer and closer to field goal range. Tampa Bay had two chances to make a stop on third down. However, the Commanders’ offense was able to convert both times and that set up a field goal attempt for the win.
With three seconds left, Gonzalez got enough of the ball that even though it hit the upright, the ball went through and the 37-yard field goal was good as time expired. Washington walked off Tampa Bay, 23-20, and the Commanders’ season will continue this weekend as they are set to take on the Detroit Lions. For the Buccaneers, their season ends here in a stunner.
