TAMPA, Fla. — Zane Gonzalez felt the ball explode off his right foot.
The Washington Commanders kicker believed as the final seconds ticked away in Sunday night’s wild-card game that the 37-yard field goal attempt was good. A question arose as he picked up his head and looked toward the goalposts.
“Why is it fading?”
The Commanders set Gonzalez up by driving 51 yards in 10 plays after a Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal tied the game. The reaction from left tackle Brandon Coleman as the ball headed hard right requires a bleep.
“I was thinking, ‘Oh, s—,’” Coleman said.
It’s unclear if Dan Quinn’s mind temporarily shut down. The head coach and his Commanders were in another last-second game. Their fifth in a row, to be precise. Therefore, you would think Quinn’s emotional state would be accustomed to the stress. Ha, good one.
“Sometimes, I’m like a duck,” Quinn explained. “(Calm above water), but if you saw the feet going underwater …”
Based on that waterfowl example, Quinn’s palmates were likely moving at Usain Bolt speed as Gonzalez lined up for the potential game-winning kick. The ball veered right, and a Bounty paper towel commercial depicting reactions to a spilled drink came to mind.
Mimicking the ad, Quinn said, “Noooooo,” bringing the media room to laughter.
As Gonzalez’s kick doinked through the right upright for a thrilling 23-20 victory, Jayden Daniels, Washington’s dynamic yet calm rookie quarterback, remained emotionally balanced — or, in this instance, oblivious.
“I don’t know,” Daniels said about his emotions watching the field goal attempt. He thinks he was looking at Commanders PR staffer Charlie Mule because interviews were about to take place with a win. “I can’t even tell you,” the rookie said.
The postgame joy told the tale. The triumph marked Washington’s fifth consecutive game ending on the final play from scrimmage. Like the other moments, the Commanders came out victorious.
A DOINK TO THE DIVISIONAL ROUND!!!! @COMMANDERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/TRwyX11zcZ
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
Right guard Sam Cosmi, who prefers “bank shot” for the kick that gave Washington its first playoff win since the 2005 season, sat at his locker bare-chested and smiling with his long brown hair slicked back with gallons of sweat. Then he went quiet for a three-count upon hearing the preposterous final play nugget.
“That’s crazy!” Cosmi said. “That’s winning-time football right there for you.”
Majority partner Josh Harris didn’t know about the upright hit until watching the replay. Mitch Rales, No. 2 in the ownership hierarchy, was unaware of the ball’s change of direction until he headed to the locker room. The Harris-led group purchased the franchise less than two years ago, as the 2023 season neared kickoff. Then, they endured a four-win campaign.
After the Gonzalez kick, Daniels’ dynamics and countless other contributors, the Commanders are heading to a divisional-round matchup against the NFC’s top-seeded Detroit Lions. How did this all happen so quickly? Another ownership group member with a firm grasp on magical moments offered a succinct answer.
“Give a lot of credit to Josh because he picked the right people,” said NBA legend Magic Johnson, referencing the hiring of Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. The five-time NBA champ with a bevy of championship rings as an owner also cited the needed culture change and the players’ collective resolve before ending with the cherry on top.
“And we picked the right quarterback,” Johnson said.
Adam Peters does things ‘the right way,’ and his Commanders are reaping the benefits
There’s no argument there. Rookies historically struggle in their playoff debuts. The big stage is a step up from the regular-season ride. Not for the presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year and first-time Pro Bowler. Whether the opening play, back-and-forth second half with four lead changes or the game-winning drive, Quinn doubts an EKG would show Daniels was playing in a tense win-or-else contest.
“If (Jayden) had a heart rate monitor on (you saw mine), they would not (suggest) we were at the same game,” the coach cracked.
Daniels outdueled Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield despite the Buccaneers leading 17-13 with less than 10 minutes remaining and wide receiver Mike Evans dominating his feisty matchup with Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Evans caught all seven targets for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Daniels, whose NFL debut was a 37-20 loss to Tampa Bay in this same stadium, ultimately caught the favored Buccaneers.
The rookie completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. His 10-yard strike to unexpected hero Dyami Brown in the back of the end zone put Washington in front 7-3 minutes into the second quarter.
The 5-yard score by Terry McLaurin on fourth down with 9:46 remaining didn’t add to the receiver’s franchise-record 13 regular-season touchdown catches. But the play tacked on another highlight for this powerful combination. After Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin’s 32-yard field goal evened the score at 20-20, Washington’s offense went to work knowing it lives for these do-or-die situations.
4th & 2. THEY GOT IT. @Commanders
📺: #WASvsTB on NBC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/GeXvGmpnec
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
Daniels opened the drive with a 5-yard pass to McLaurin from Washington’s 30. Then came a 21-yarder to Brown on third-and-6 over the middle and an 18-yarder to Austin Ekeler, even if it’s unclear how Daniels threaded the left-flat pass to his running back. After an Ekeler 8-yard run, one of Washington’s rare positive plays in the traditional ground game, Daniels faced another third down. There was no doubt in his mind what would happen next.
“(Offensive coordinator) Kliff (Kingsbury) called my number essentially before I told him, ‘Hey, you can put the ball in my hands.’”
Of course, this would be the plan. Superstars make winning plays, and Daniels is already at that upper echelon. The dual-threat quarterback faked a handoff to running back Brian Robinson Jr. and quickly headed right. Tampa Bay defensive tackle Calijah Kancey broke through the line. Daniels beat him to the edge. “I made Kancey miss,” Daniels said, “and the offensive line did a great job.”
Knowing he needed to reach the 18-yard line, Daniels dove for the first down. After a kneeldown, Gonzalez did his job.
“This is what we’ve been doing all season,” McLaurin said. “This what (Jayden) has been doing all season.”
Commanders again ride the poise of their veteran linebacker and rookie QB to victory
McLaurin finished with seven receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Brown matched McLaurin with a season-high 89 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Under the old regime, the 2021 third-round pick was on the trade block last season. Brown has become a key contributor under this staff, emblematic of an unheralded roster that finds ways to win. Washington even used backup quarterback Marcus Mariota — with Daniels on the field in a “Pony” formation — for a successful sneak.
“There are a lot of guys that are ready to step into those moments,” Quinn said.
Washington’s efficiency meant zero punts for the third game this season.
“I love when Tress (Way) doesn’t punt,” Quinn added.
Future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner has been a postseason regular since his first year with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2013, he won Super Bowl XLVIII alongside his defensive coordinator, Quinn.
“You can’t get too excited to where you’re not disciplined enough to pick on things,” said Wagner. The linebacker picked up a botched Buccaneers handoff at Tampa Bay’s 13-yard line moments after Daniels’ pass to tight end Zach Ertz fell incomplete on a fourth-and-goal from the Buccaneers’ 3-yard line. McLaurin’s touchdown came four plays after Wagner’s recovery.
“We could have easily lowered our heads (after the failed fourth down) and let that affect us. But we stayed focused,” Wagner said. “These games are fun, and every game is different.”
Well, not with these final-play endings. The Commanders keep playing in them and keep on winning.
No one expected them to be in this spot. Some can’t believe what they’re seeing. Most won’t imagine how Washington can beat the Lions next week. At this point, doubt at your own risk. Nobody should be asking why this team isn’t fading.
(Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
