The Washington Commanders were known by a different name the last time they won a playoff game (2005). Finally, that drought is over after the Commanders escaped with a three-point victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Wild Card Round showdown.
It took a little scare before Washington sealed the victory and a matchup with the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. With the game tied at 20, Zane Gonzalez’s field goal attempt sailed to the right upright before bouncing in for three points. Gonzalez contributed to this victory, converting three field goals and two extra points.
Commanders fans are smiling through it all
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
First playoff win in 19 years! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/8AhZBdEhH4
Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels won his first playoff game as an NFL quarterback, finishing with 24 completions for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He found Dyami Brown for a ten-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and Terry McLaurin for a five-yard score in the fourth quarter to put Washington ahead 19-17. Chase McLaughlin tied the game at 20 before Gonzalez’s game-winning doink.
As the lowest-seed winner in the NFC Wild Card Round, the Commanders will visit top-seed Detroit in the Divisional Round. While they will be underdogs in that game, Washington does have a 6-3 road record, including their win against Tampa Bay.
-Lance Fernandez