Life is a full circle in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers' season began with the Commanders and ended with the Commanders. The Buccaneers fell at home to the Washington Commanders 23-20 after a game-winning field goal by Zane Gonzalez. The heartbreaking loss sent many Bucs fans home with an unsatisfied taste in their mouths. The NFC South champs were also the first home playoff team to lose their game this weekend. Then, to make matters worse, the Buccaneers had the game in the bag and were one of the hottest teams in the league up to this point. Though the saying all good things must come to an end is true, what made this ending so abrupt?
The Magical Rookie in D.C.
Jayden Daniels is the front-runner for Rookie of the Year, and he showed off why during Sunday's matchup. Revenge was sweet for Daniels as he completed 24/35 for 268 yards, two passing touchdowns, and an 80.4 QBR. Tampa was unfortunate to face this version of Jayden Daniels instead of the naive rookie they saw in week one. In that early September matchup, Daniels threw for about 100 fewer yards, no touchdowns, and had a QBR of 34.3. His poor passing performance was part of why Tampa routed them 37-20 in the season's first game. A lot can change in four months, and the Buccaneers have found out the hard way.
Daniels was successful in the rushing game in the week one matchup. Daniels ran for eighty-six yards and two rushing TDs against the Buccaneers, showing off his dual-threat ability. Tampa decided to gameplan around Daniels's rushing ability in the wildcard game, but the now-seasoned rookie torched them, throwing the ball instead. Daniels had two main targets this game: Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown. McLaurin was spectacular in this matchup. The All-Pro caught seven balls for eighty-nine yards and a score. Night and day compared to the week one game, where he only had two receptions for seventeen yards. Since that first game, he and Daniels have been a dynamic duo. McLaurin finished the year with over 1,000 receiving yards and thirteen receiving touchdowns. This earned him Pro Bowl honors and his first career All-Pro team. He proved how he earned that All-Pro selection early in the game. On the first drive, McLaurin hauled in a jaw-dropping 35-yard pass. McLaurin caught it over his shoulder while Jamel Dean was draped over him. He was a matchup nightmare for the Bucs secondary, and whenever Daniels threw it his way, it was almost a guaranteed catch.
A surprising breakout performance occurred when Washington wideout Dyami Brown went off for a career-high five receptions and eighty-nine yards. Dyami only had one touchdown in the season, and he matched that total in Sunday's win. Dyami caught all five targets and even brought in a thirty-yard reception. Brown has been in the NFL for four seasons now, but it was tonight that he showcased his best performance of his career. Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, they were the opponent that saw it happen.
The Nail in the Coffin
All game long, it was a back-and-forth affair between the two high-powered offenses. The Buccaneers looked in complete control after scoring a touchdown late in the first half, then taking their opening second-half drive into the endzone. That third-quarter drive was masterful by the Buccaneer's offense. They took up nearly six minutes of the game clock and lumbered seventy-two yards in ten plays, where the electric Bucky Irving drove in a four-yard touchdown reception. That TD put the Bucs up 17-13 late in the third quarter with all momentum with the home team. Washington responded with their own twelve-play drive that took up five and a half minutes of the game clock, but unfortunately, they did not finish with points. The Commanders, instead, were stuffed on fourth and goal from the three-yard line after an incomplete pass to Zach Ertz.
The turnover on downs erupted the eager crowd in Tampa, and the offense was ready to seal the deal. Tampa's win projection skyrocketed to a 71.6% chance of winning. All they would have to do was score while eating up time on the game clock, and they were off to the next round. Then, on the fourth play of the drive, disaster struck. Baker Mayfield took the snap under center and turned to hand the ball off to rookie Jalen McMillan, sweeping from the right side. During the exchange, the ball fell to the ground and right into the hands of Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner. Washington would take over from the Bucs ' thirteen-yard line. It was a heartwrenching turnover that all but cost them their season at that point. With Washington only thirteen yards away from the endzone, they quickly punched in six points. The Buccaneers were able to respond with a field goal on the following drive, tying the game at twenty a piece, but Jayden Daniels had other plans. In the game's final drive, the Commanders went fifty-one yards in twelve plays. This brought them well within field goal range, and after burning all of their timeouts, the Buccaneers were left with three seconds and a 37-yard field goal attempt.
After the Commanders took their timeout with three seconds left, kicker Zane Gonzalez was seen nervously petting his hair. He had his helmet in one hand, and whenever it looked like he was about to put it on, he'd rip it off and brush his hair again. It looked like he was a teenager trying to style his hair right before class picture day. The thing is, every time he'd finish brushing his hair, nothing would change. Gonzalez was far from bald, but his skin-tight fade didn't need a combing through. It was the most nervous a kicker could have looked. Then, with all the pressure weighing on his shoulders and hair, he attempted the game-winning field goal that would send the Commanders to the next round for the first time in nineteen years. Washington had the ball on the far left hash on the field, and when Gonzalez kicked that ball, it took a hard right turn. As it approached its destination, it was nearly wide right until it hit the right post and fell straight to the ground, just over the crossbar. Game over. This meant devastation for the Bucs as the sold-out home stadium fans went home defeated and unsatisfied. It was the first heartbreaking loss of the postseason and the first home team to lose on wildcard weekend.
What's Next?
Though it was an abrupt end to a fantastic season where the Bucs won six of their final seven games, it was still a successful year. For the fourth time in a row, Tampa Bay was crowned NFC South champions. They improved from their total wins from a year ago by winning ten games. Despite losing their offensive coordinator to the Carolina Panthers head coaching job, the offense still finished in the top five points per game. Baker Mayfield especially had a great season, statistically. He tossed for a career-high 4,500 yards and a monster forty-one touchdowns. Mike Evans also made NFL history by receiving over 1,000 yards in his eleventh consecutive season. He accomplished this feat despite missing three games due to injury. The Buccaneers also drafted another star in the making this year. Rookie running back Bucky Irving flashed for the squad, leading the team in rushing yards with over 1,100. He bolstered the rushing game from last place a year ago to fourth in the league this season. At only twenty-two years old, Irving's future is bright.
As for the negatives, Mayfield is still a turnover machine. He led the NFL in INTs and fumbles. He threw sixteen picks and fumbled thirteen balls, a deadly combo that also helped result in their playoff loss. If he wants to turn the corner to become an elite, top-five quarterback, he needs those numbers to plummet. Another negative was the Buccaneers' secondary. Going into the season, they were ultra-thin talent-wise at the position, but it all went to hell when they started getting hurt. I felt they needed another corner or two before the season began (it turns out I was wrong by about five.) The Tampa secondary was terrible when they were healthy but dreadful when they were hurt (and they were always hurt.) The passing defense finished 31st in passing yards per game, only ahead of Jacksonville. Going into the offseason, the Bucs NEED to address that position, whether in free agency, the Draft, or both. If I were the GM, I would lean more towards both.
Despite the negatives in the secondary, I still believe that Tampa has a strong core. The goal again next season will be to maintain that strong core while also adding to it by drafting and signing positions of need. Luckily for the Bucs, many of their best players are still on their rookie deals. This ideal situation could lead to a bright future for the pirates down in Tampa.
Final Score: Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
Bastable's Three Starts
Star 1: Mike Evans (7 Receptions, 92 Yards, 1 TD)
Star 2: Lavonte David (8 Tackles, 1 Sack)
Star 3: Yaya Diaby (3 Tackles, 1 Sack)
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