Daniels, Commanders proceed late-game magic in win over Bucs

TAMPA — The Washington Commanders proceed to show one factor this season: They’re forward of schedule. They additionally know the right way to win shut video games.

Washington, which gained eight extra video games this season than a yr in the past, gained yet one more sport with a dramatic late end. The newest — a 37-yard Zane Gonzalez subject objective to beat Tampa Bay 23-20 — offered Washington with its first playoff win since 2005.

It has turn out to be a behavior for a group that loves speaking about “successful moments,” and coach Dan Quinn mentioned he targeted extra on late-game conditions in follow than he had at any level in his profession.

It has mattered all season. Few groups are as examined in late-game conditions as Washington. The Commanders ended the common season with 5 straight wins — three occurred on the final play from scrimmage and a fourth ended with Washington stopping a 2-point conversion on the ultimate play.

Earlier this season, Washington beat Chicago on a 52-yard Hail Mary cross on the buzzer and defeated the New York Giants in Week 2 on a last-second subject objective.

The season represents a fast turnaround for a group that went 4-13 final season. Commanders’ late-game success enabled them to go 12-5 within the common season in Quinn’s first season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was an enormous key in Sunday’s win, however the Washington protection allowed solely 284 yards, slowing the Bucs’ high-powered offense.

Here are a very powerful issues to know from Sunday evening for each groups:

Pivotal play: For the fourth time within the sport, Washington went for it on fourth down. This time it was from the Tampa 5-yard line with 9:46 left. The Commanders had simply failed on a fourth-and-goal from the three, however this time Daniels linked with receiver Terry McLaurin for the landing and 20-17 lead. It was McLaurin’s eleventh pink zone landing catch of the season; he had 11 in his first 5 years mixed. The drive was arrange by linebacker Bobby Wagner‘s fumble restoration on the Tampa 13.

QB breakdown: Daniels didn’t seem like a rookie enjoying his first playoff sport. He accomplished 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for one more 36 yards on 13 carries. He additionally made performs he couldn’t make within the season opening loss to Tampa due to one huge change: He stored his eyes downfield when he scrambled. It resulted in key performs, corresponding to a 9-yard completion to tight finish Zach Ertz on a third-and-6 from their very own 12-yard line.

Troubling pattern: Cornerback Marshon Lattimore has not performed the best way Washington hoped in his two video games towards big-time receivers since being acquired from New Orleans forward of the commerce deadline. He was flagged for 3 cross interference penalties versus Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown on Dec. 22 and one towards Mike Evans Sunday evening. Evans received open towards Lattimore every time wanted, making Lattimore seem like a participant who had performed in simply two video games since Oct. 27 due to left hamstring points. — John Keim

The Buccaneers ought to have gone for it whereas they’d the prospect.

They had the chance to tie or take the lead on fourth-and-3 on the Washington 14-yard line with 4:45 to go and kicked a tying subject objective to make it 20-20. ESPN Analytics disagreed with that call, having their win chance at 46.1% (57.4% probability to transform) if going for it, whereas their win chance on a subject objective was 43.6% with a 93.2% probability to make the sphere objective.

After the Bucs tied it up, Washington strung collectively chunk cross performs of 21, 18 and eight yards whereas consuming up useful clock time, organising the Commanders’ 37-yard game-winning subject objective.

Pivotal play: After a hard-fought goal-line stand on the Tampa Bay 3 that preserved the Bucs’ 17-13 lead, Baker Mayfield fumbled a handoff that was recovered by Commanders linebacker Wagner on the Tampa Bay 13. With Josh Hayes stepping in for injured cornerback Jamel Dean, Daniels linked with Terry McLaurin on an in-route to retake the lead 20-17 with 9:46 to go. It was the primary time in six video games that the Bucs had allowed a second-half landing.

Biggest gap within the sport plan: The Bucs’ protection couldn’t get off the sphere. The Commanders have been 8-of-15 on third down, none larger than Daniels’ keeper round the suitable aspect within the last minute. Their zone protection struggled towards performs going throughout the sphere, together with a 30-yard reception by Dyami Brown, and in-routes, corresponding to Brown’s 10-yard landing, and 17- and 18-yard receptions by McLaurin. And then penalties, they’d seven for 65 yards.

Most stunning efficiency: Evans vs. Lattimore is often a extra tightly contested matchup, nevertheless it was all Evans. The Bucs’ prime receiver caught all 5 targets with Lattimore as the closest defender for 73 yards and a landing. It was the second-highest receiving whole Evans has had in his profession towards Lattimore, behind a 115-yard efficiency in 2018. Evans had seven receptions for 92 yards on the evening. — Jenna Laine