The Washington Commanders are preparing to take on the Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday.
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— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
The Commanders owe a big thanks to quarterback Jayden Daniels and kicker Zane Gonzales for earning the organization’s first playoff win since 2005 in last week’s NFC Wildcard victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Daniels was responsible for both of Washington’s touchdowns in last week’s matchup, completing 24-35 passes (68.6%) for 268 yards. His 36 yards on the ground also led the team in rushing yard.
The Commanders’ first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft scored his first touchdown of the game, finding wide receiver Dyami Brown on a 10-yard pass at the top half of the second quarter. After the Buccaneers began to appear to take control with a 17-13 lead into the third quarter, Daniels went to wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a five-yard throw to take the lead and set the stage for a last second field goal by Gonzales to win the game.
JAYDEN DANIELS TO TERRY MCLAURIN ON FOURTH DOWN ????
(via @Commanders)pic.twitter.com/QfOhFYin40
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 13, 2025
When Daniels and the Commanders’ offense couldn’t find the end zone for two quarters, Gonzales kept them in the game.
Gonzales followed Daniels’ touchdown pass to Brown with a 52-yard field goal with less than two minutes to play in the first half to take a 10-3 lead. Tampa Bay would score before time ran out, as quarterback Baker Mayfield found veteran wide receiver Mike Evans for a one-yard score to knot the game before the half.
The kicker made an immediate response in the second quarter, knocking down another field goal — this one from 22 yards — to take the lead back; however, Mayfield would respond with another touchdown, this time targeting running back Bucky Irving for a four-yard score.
In addition to his field goals, Gonzales knocked down both of the ensuing extra points after Daniels’ TDs, but the Bucs weren’t going down without a fight.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers put the game back even with less than five minutes to play with a 32-yard chip shot after Daniels and McLaurin’s touchdown. It was just enough time for the QB and Gonzales to work their magic together.
Daniels methodically led a 10-play drive downfield to position Gonzales for a 37-yard game-winner. After hitting a 50-plus-yarder earlier in the game, you would think anything else would be a gimme. But that’s not playoff football.
Gonzales hooked the kick as time expired, sending the ball into the right upright and banking back in between the goal post for the Commanders first playoff win in 19 years.
DOINKED IT IN FOR THE DUB!!!!!
???? #WASvsTB @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/3WvqkokVMV
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
Their clutch genes are something the pair must’ve developed in The Valley, both playing at Arizona State at a point in time.
Gonzales played all his college years as a Sun Devil, being named a unanimous All-American and winning the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best kicker before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He converted 96-116 field goals (82.8%) of his field goals in his four seasons at ASU.
Daniels left ASU after three seasons before transferring to LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy. The rookie completed 451-723 (62.4%) of his passes for 32 touchdowns in the air, and added 1,288 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground during his tenure as a Sun Devil.
The former Arizona State student athletes missed each other in Tempe, but found each other in Washington. Boy did the Commanders need them.
As the duo prepares to take on the NFC’s No. 1 seed Lions, Daniels and Gonzales will have to show what they did last week and then some to earn the Commanders first Divisional playoff win since 1991 when Washington won the Super Bowl.
Former ASU quarterback leads Commanders to first playoff win in 19 years
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
