Washington pulled off a gritty win over Tampa Bay on Wildcard Weekend with help from some late-game chaos. Down four with a fourth-and-goal shot, Washington failed to punch it in and turned it over on downs. But Tampa Bay immediately gave it right back on a fumbled handoff between Baker Mayfield and his running back. Washington capitalized with a touchdown to take the lead. That sequence changed everything.
Tampa Bay made a drive of their own but stalled near the goal line. Mistimed snaps and busted blocking assignments killed their momentum, forcing them to settle for a game-tying field goal. With under five minutes left, Washington burned clock and marched down the field. On a key third-and-short, the play fake failed, but the Commanders still moved it enough to set up their kicker. Zane Gonzalez, known for his OCD routines, delivered despite the pressure. His helmet-on, fix-hair, helmet-back-off pre-kick ritual raised eyebrows, but the 3-second drill worked. The game-winner bounced off the post and through, sealing a dramatic win.
Baker and the Bucs were visibly frustrated, and the offense struggled with rhythm throughout. Washington took advantage, and now they’re moving on. Tampa’s season ends with sloppy snaps, missed blocks, and a kicker’s towel being used as a prop in frustration. Not a clean finish for the Bucs, but a timely one for the Commanders.