Washington Commanders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL Wild Card Playoffs)

1ST QUARTER

15:00 ON THE CLOCK: Baker Mayfield finds Mike Evans for a first down in the first play of the game. A gain to the 41 yard line is a good start for the Buccaneers. Then shortly after, Mayfield throws to Mike Evans again for another first down. Although some good progress is made Tampa have to settle for a field goal from 50 which is converted by Kicker Chase McLaughlin. Tampa Bay lead 3-0. 

10:39 ON THE CLOCK: Rookie QB Jayden Daniels under pressure from the Buccaneers defence on 3rd & 6, but he throws to a running Terry McLaurin who catches brilliantly to give his team the first down. Daniels then has pressure again on 3rd and short which he tries to run himself but he is stopped before making any progress. The Commanders try to go for it on 4th & 2 but Daniels has to throw it to the ground to avoid a possible fumble or sack. The ball goes back to Tampa Bay as the crowd roars on their team. 

2:18 ON THE CLOCK: The Commanders have the ball again as their QB runs out of the pocket and throws on the move to Tight End Cole Turner for the first down. Saving yet another 3rd down for the drive. Consecutive first downs for Washington as McLaurin is found again from an arrow from Daniels. A 2nd & 6 follows with Daniels throwing across to Austin Ekeler, with a run for a first down plus 5 yards on the play. 

2ND QUARTER

15:00 ON THE CLOCK: Daniels continues the positive drive as he moves the ball onto Brian Robinson Jr. who runs for the first down and more. The rookie QB then tries to run the ball again on 3rd & 3 before a big stop by Cornerback Zyan McCollum puts an end to his progress. However, Washington again goes for it on 4th & 1, which Ekeler pushes through just about getting the first down. The drive continues with 3rd & GOAL for Washington with Daniels having time and retreating slightly before throwing to a wide open receiver in Dyami Brown. Washington now leads 7-3 in Tampa. 

8:16 ON THE CLOCK: Tampa Bay has the ball back, looking to make a play to get their game going. They ares stuck at 3rd & 22 which Mayfield runs and passes to Rachaad White who is unable to make any significant progress. Tampa Bay punts the ball back to Washington in a frustrating drive. 

7:20 ON THE CLOCK: The familiar partnership of McLaurin and Daniels connects again with a good catch to get within a few yards of a first down. However, a 3rd & 6 attempt to go deep by Washington for a touchdown is unsuccessful, with another solid defensive job from McCollum. The Commanders go for a field goal using their fourth kicker of the season in Zane Gonzalez who splits the ticks from 52 yards. 10-3 to Washington.

1:17 ON THE CLOCK: A 3rd & 9 attempt by Baker Mayfield as he runs with the ball, breaking through two tackles and continuing for a gain of 18. A second consecutive first down as Mayfield finds Mike Evans for a gain of 11. Then again another first down with Mayfield finding Evans again, who is brought down just before the 10 yard line. 1st & GOAL brings in a first touchdown for Tampa with Mike Evans on the receiving end again and is too strong for the Washington defenders. A tied game at 10-10. 

HALF TIME - WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 10 - 10 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

12:03 ON THE CLOCK: The Commanders try to regain the lead with a positive drive. Dyami Brown received the ball and drove at the Buccaneers defence, getting not only a first down but 1st & GOAL. The Commanders can’t seem to make the ball stick with 3rd & GOAL resulting in no score. Another field goal gives them the lead as Gonzalez makes no mistake from 22 yards. 

8:27 ON THE CLOCK: Tampa Bay is just before the half way line on 3rd down when Mayfield throws a clutch pass to Mike Evans yet again to get to the 32 yard line. The next play is handed off to Running Back Bucky Irving who gets the first down and more to set up the Buccaneers within the 15 yard line. Irving is handed the ball again for a gain on 2nd & 15. On 2nd & GOAL Irving runs past Mayfield before turning to receive the ball and run for the touchdown. A touchdown for Tampa makes the score 17-13 in their favour. 

3:45 ON THE CLOCK: A 2nd & 4 with Daniels again making use of his partnership with McLaurin for a gain of 17 on the play. On the next plays, Washington go again on 4th down with Jayden Daniels throwing to Zach Ertz around the 23 yard line. 

4TH QUARTER

14:56 ON THE CLOCK: Daniels on 3rd & 10 looks for Dyami Brown in the endzone but is unable to find him. However, a flag is thrown as a penalty gives Washington a lifeline. Even Though the Commanders are given a lifeline they are stopped on 3rd & GOAL by Deion Jones with his teammates showing how important that may be in the long term for the game. A 4th & GOAL for the Commanders as Jayden Daniels stays on the field again but unable to find a receiver again as Tampa receive the ball back without a score against them. 

11:58 ON THE CLOCK: Baker Mayfield loses the ball as he looks to hand it off to Jalen McMillan. The ball comes loose and Sheldon Day pounces on the ball to give the ball back to Washington in a crucial turn of events in this game! 

9:50 ON THE CLOCK: 4th & 2 for the Commanders who again go for the 4th down which they have to do due to being 4 points down and nothing to lose at this point. Their QB1 with a great throw into the endzone to find an open Terry McLaurin, the partnership that he made the game for Washington. They take advantage of the mistake from the Buccaneers to take the lead themselves in the 4th quarter. Commanders 20-17 Buccaneers. 

9:39 ON THE CLOCK: Baker Mayfield finds McMillan for a first down to just after the halfway line. The partnership back on track after the mishap in the last play for the Buccaneers offense. A 3rd & 2 follows with Tight End Cade Otton receiving the ball for a first down and more as he slips a tackle. The 1st & 10 that follows is given to Irving who runs into open space before being stopped by the Washington defence just before the first down. Mayfield tries to give the ball back to Irving to get the relevant gain for a first down but unable to do so as a combo of defenders swarm him to force the field goal. The 32 yard field goal is converted to tie the game at 20-20. 

3:19 ON THE CLOCK: Just over 3 minutes for the Commanders to get at least into field goal range for the win. On the first part of the drive, Dyami Brown is found to get the Commanders over halfway for a crucial conversion of third down. 2nd & 10 is caught by Ekeler as he moves the Commanders within 30 yards. Ekeler runs with the ball on the next play for a gain of around 7. The rookie QB shows no signs of play off nerves as he runs with the ball and dives for the first down on 3rd & 1 within 15. With just 3 seconds left the ball is at the feet of Zane Gonzalez for the win, the ball doinks off the post and is GOOD! The Washington Commanders move onto the Divisional Round by the nearest of margins. 

Baker Mayfield in disbelief as Tampa Bay’s season comes to an agonising end as Washington wins on the road 23-20 to set up a match with the Detroit Lions. 

FINAL SCORE - WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 23 - 20 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS