Washington Commanders end long wait for post-season victory
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A fourth quarter turnover and last-ditch field goal gave the Washington Commanders their first post-season win in 19 years as they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20. Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard kick went in off the upright as time expired to give the Commanders a divisional round trip to NFC top seeds the Detroit Lions.
They had taken the lead earlier in the fourth quarter when rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels made the most of a fumbled Tampa Bay exchange, finding Terry McLaurin in the end zone on a fourth down. Baker Mayfield, whose fumble had handed possession back to the visitors, was unable to make the most of good field possession and the Buccaneers had to make do with levelling through a field goal from Chase McLaughlin.
The hosts never regained possession, Daniels leading his team downfield to set up the winning kick. McLaughlin and Gonzalez had both landed long-range field goals in the first half, Daniels finding Dyami Brown from 10 yards before Mayfield connected with Mike Evans to level things at 10-10 at the break.
Gonzalez kicked the Commanders ahead again in the third quarter, only for Mayfield to respond and find Bucky Irving to open a 17-13 lead. But he was unable to stretch that advantage and the Commanders seized their chances in the closing minutes to end their long wait.
The Philadelphia Eagles booked a home meeting with either the Los Angeles Rams or the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC divisional round with a 22-10 win over the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, playing for the first time in three weeks after a concussion, threw for two touchdown passes and the Eagles defence strangled the Packers’ offence.
