Home NFL Washington New Ownership, New Leadership, New Hope, & Playoff Win

Washington New Ownership, New Leadership, New Hope, & Playoff Win

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Courtesy Of The Washington Commanders Communications

Tampa, FL—A fresh start for Washington led to their first playoff victory in nearly 19 years, powered by a franchise-altering formula: new ownership, a new general manager, a new coach, and a new franchise quarterback. The standout of the night was rookie QB Jayden Daniels, who ran for a crucial first down and later guided his team to a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card game on Sunday. Daniels’ poised performance helped set up Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal that hit the right upright and sailed through as time expired — securing Washington’s first playoff win since 2006.

Daniels, with a bandage beneath his right eye after taking a hit earlier in the game, became the third rookie quarterback in the past three seasons to win a playoff game, joining C.J. Stroud and Brock Purdy. His 268 yards passing and two touchdowns proved pivotal. With the win, the Commanders (13-5) will now face the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions (15-2) in the divisional round.

“It means a lot, man,” Daniels said. “You can see all the fans — they’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I’m just so happy for them.”

The Buccaneers (10-8), led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, had several missed opportunities, including a costly turnover in the fourth quarter. After failing to gain a single yard on two attempts from the Washington 12-yard line, Tampa Bay had to settle for a field goal to tie the game. The Commanders responded with a game-winning drive led by Daniels.

The turnaround for Washington began in 2023 when Daniel Snyder sold the team to a group led by Josh Harris and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. Harris and his group immediately set the stage for success by hiring GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn. In April, they selected Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick.

“You have to give Josh a lot of credit because we picked the right people,” Johnson said. “We brought in Adam Peters, coach Quinn, and they brought in the right players. The culture has completely changed from a losing one to a winning one. And it all starts with the quarterback.”

Courtesy Of The Washington Commanders Communications

Washington had been struggling for years, but Daniels helped lead the team from a dismal 4-13 record to a more promising 12-5 season. Now, the Commanders are primed to take on Jared Goff and the high-powered Lions offense in the next round.

“We’re not going to give up until the clock hits zero,” Daniels promised. “We’ll keep fighting until the very end.”

Tampa Bay opened the fourth quarter with a defensive stand inside the 5-yard line, maintaining a 17-13 lead. However, Mayfield’s fumble on a handoff to Jalen McMillan gave Washington the ball at the Buccaneers’ 13-yard line. Daniels capitalized on the opportunity, connecting with Terry McLaurin for a 5-yard touchdown, putting Washington ahead 20-17.

Mayfield then led the Bucs downfield, setting up a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at 20-20. But with less than a minute remaining, Daniels calmly drove Washington into field goal range. On third-and-2, he scrambled for 4 yards to set up Gonzalez for the game-winning 37-yard kick.

“We were bold but not reckless,” said coach Dan Quinn, referring to his team’s aggressive approach throughout the game.

In the third quarter, Mayfield threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Irving, giving Tampa Bay a 17-13 lead. Earlier in the game, Mayfield connected with Mike Evans for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10-10.

Washington had a strong start, with Daniels throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dyami Brown to give the Commanders a 7-3 lead. Gonzalez added a 50-yard field goal to extend their advantage to 10-3. Tampa Bay responded with a 50-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin on their opening drive.

Injuries:

  • Commanders: DT Daron Payne (finger), TE Ben Sinnott (shoulder), and LB Jordan Magee (hamstring) left the game. Daniels sustained a facial gash that required stitching but continued playing.
  • Buccaneers: DT Calijah Kancey was evaluated for a concussion but returned. CB Jamel Dean suffered a knee injury in the second half.

Up Next:

  • Commanders: One win away from the NFC Championship game.
  • Buccaneers: Offseason preparations begin.