Jayden Daniels Leads the Washington Commanders to Their First Playoff Win Since 2005

The most entertaining game of the NFL Wild Card weekend took place Sunday night, as the Washington Commanders, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, went on the road and defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what fans are calling the “Divisional Doink” game.

Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez sealed the victory with a dramatic field goal as time expired. The ball hit the goalpost and bounced in, giving Washington their first playoff win in nearly 20 years. Jayden Daniels’s leadership on the final drive of the game was meticulous, with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury calling a well-executed series of plays.

One of the most pivotal moments of the game, outside of Gonzalez’s game-winning kick, was a critical 3rd-and-6 catch by Dyami Brown on Tampa Bay’s 21-yard line. For those seeing the Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate in action for the first time, Daniels left a lasting impression. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdown passes, showcasing why this was his sixth game-winning drive of the season.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin praised Daniels after the game, saying, “This is what he’s been doing all season. His ability to just be ready for any moment that comes his way is, I think, definitely special for a rookie.”

Daniels’s leadership and confidence were on full display throughout the game. On the final drive, he took a knee at Tampa Bay’s 19-yard line before head coach Dan Quinn called a timeout to set up Gonzalez for the game-winning field goal. After the game, Daniels expressed his excitement about moving on to the next round, even joking about wanting to end the game with a rushing touchdown.

“I’m happy for the fan base, the franchise, and everything they’ve been through to get to this point,” Daniels said to the media. “I wanted to score, but that’s why I don’t coach.”

The glow of this win will carry over as the Commanders prepare to face the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the divisional round. After Washington’s inspiring performance, some analysts are giving them a legitimate chance to pull off another upset. With a quarterback like Daniels playing at such a high level, the Commanders have every reason to believe they can beat anyone if they stay hot.

On Saturday night, the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders will battle for a spot in the NFC Championship game.