The Tampa Bay Buccaneers season came to end Sunday night on the turf at Raymond James Stadium. The Pewter Pirates fell to the Washington Commanders 23-20 following a crucial turnover by the Bucs in the fourth-quarter.
As the Washington Commanders sealed Tampa Bay’s fate, quarterback Baker Mayfield sat on the Buccaneers’ bench, donning a baseball cap and bowing his head in frustration, powerless to prevent the season-ending defeat.
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A pivotal moment in the game came when Baker Mayfield’s fumble in the fourth quarter was converted into a touchdown, briefly giving the Washington Commanders the lead. However, the Buccaneers’ typically potent offense stalled, managing only a tying field goal on their ensuing possession. This set the stage for a disappointing early exit from the NFL playoffs for Tampa Bay.
In a thrilling conclusion to Sunday night’s wild-card matchup, Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez booted a 37-yard field goal that ricocheted off the right upright as time expired, securing the victory over the Buccaneers.
The winning kick capped off a methodical drive led by Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense, which maintained possession for the final 4:41, leaving the Buccaneers to wonder what could have been.
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Mayfield had a strong showing, completing 15 of 18 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. However, a crucial mistake occurred when Mayfield botched a handoff to Jalen McMillan on an end-around play, giving the Commanders new life. This turnover came at a critical juncture, as the Buccaneers’ defense had just stopped Washington on downs, preserving a slim 17-13 lead.
Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner pounced on the loose ball, recovering the fumble at the Buccaneers’ 13-yard line. This timely takeaway set the stage for Jayden Daniels to connect on his second touchdown pass, propelling Washington to a 20-17 lead.
Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers on a promising drive, marching them down to the Commanders’ 12-yard line. However, the momentum stalled when Mayfield was stuffed for no gain on a second-and-1 run up the middle, and Bucky Irving was dropped for a 2-yard loss on the ensuing third down. Chase McLaughlin’s 32-yard field goal ultimately tied the game, but the Buccaneers never regained possession, as the Commanders maintained control of the ball for the remainder of the contest.
Another unfortunate ending to a Buccaneers playoff run. With the offseason now started, the team has some questions they need to answer. We’ll start diving into that tomorrow.
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