The Washington Commanders won their first NFL playoff game since 2005 as Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal from the upright gave them a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card round on Sunday.
Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns as the Commanders became the first road team to win in this year’s playoffs and set up a divisional clash with the lead. NFC series, the Detroit Lions.
The game came alive late in the second quarter when, with Washington leading 10-3, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield charged 18 yards up the middle, making a tough tackle while continuing the drive.
Mayfield finished the drive with a perfect floater pass in the end zone to Mike Evans to send the teams into halftime at 10-10.
After a 22-yard field goal by Gonzalez, Mayfield found Bucky Irving with a 4-yard pass to put the Bucs ahead 17-13.
But Washington restored its advantage early in the fourth when, after a Mayfield fumble led to a turnover, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on a 5-yard touchdown pass.
But after Tampa Bay tied the game with a Chase McLaughlin field goal, Daniels led a 10-play, 51-yard drive to let Gonzalez have the final say — which he provided, albeit with help from the upright. .
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, I’m so happy (for the fans),” Daniels said.
– Invoice cruise –
Josh Allen threw two touchdowns as the Buffalo Bills beat the Denver Broncos 31-7.
Second-seeded Buffalo’s win sets up a blockbuster AFC Divisional Round matchup next weekend against third-seeded Baltimore, pitting Allen against the Ravens’ reigning NFL MVP , Lamar Jackson.
Allen finished with 272 passing yards on 20-of-26 attempts, with two touchdowns and no interceptions, along with 46 rushing yards.
Seventh-seeded Denver shook Buffalo with a touchdown on the game’s first drive, with quarterback Bo Nix finding receiver Troy Franklin with a deep pass for a 43-yard touchdown to silence the home crowd.
The Bills responded with 10 unanswered points, with Tyler Bass kicking a 26-yard field goal and James Cook leaping into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.
Denver had a chance to tie the game just before halftime, but Wil Lutz’s 50-yard field goal attempt bounced off the posts to leave Buffalo 10-7 ahead at halftime.
The Bills took control of the game in the third quarter.
Bass kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 13-7, and after the Bills defense forced another Denver punt, Ty Johnson made a stunning catch inches off the ground on the back from the end zone on Allen’s pass to make it 19-7. A successful two-point conversion put the Bills up 21-7.
Allen threw his second touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, picking off Curtis Samuel for a 55-yard touchdown run that made the score 28-7.
Denver’s offense continued to be stymied by Buffalo’s defense, their helplessness summed up by the inability to convert a 4th-and-2 situation on their next possession.
Allen and the Bills took advantage of this opportunity to extend the lead to 31-7 with Bass’ third field goal of the game.
The result also means that the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, will host the Houston Texans in the divisional round.
– The eagles advance –
The Philadelphia Eagles advanced in the NFC with a 22-10 victory over the disappointing Green Bay Packers in a defensive game.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts returned after missing the last two games with a concussion and he showed no signs of rust with an early 11-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love had a rough day, throwing an early interception with Darius Slay taking the pick.
Even when Love was able to put Green Bay within field goal range, with a 13-play drive in the second quarter, Brandon McManus missed the 38-yard kick.
Dallas Goedert put Philadelphia ahead 16-3 when he scooped up a pass from Hurts and then burst toward the end zone, delivering two stiff arms to keep Carrington Valentine at bay as he drove in the score.
Josh Jacobs gave the Packers some hope with his 1-yard run after showing impressive power and strength on the previous play to break a series of tackles for 31 yards.
But it was the Packers’ last productive moment as two Jake Elliott field goals wrapped up the Eagles’ victory.
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