The Washington Commanders aren't ready to throw in the towel on their fairytale season just yet.
It was another dramatic evening on the primetime stage for head coach Dan Quinn's squad. They were forced to dig deep and show their customary resolve at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to keep things close. When the Commanders got a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, they duly delivered.
Fans gasped in collective disbelief when kicker Zane Gonzalez's final-second field goal doinked the upright. But not for the first time this season, the football gods were shining on the Commanders and the ball went through the upright.
This was a staggering success. A first playoff win since 2005 was richly deserved. The scenes of jubilation at Raymond James Stadium following the contest are something fans have been craving for decades.
There is no time for the Commanders to revel in their ongoing adulation. They'll get the sternest test of all next weekend when they travel to the Detroit Lions on Saturday Night Football. Dan Campbell's men are the No. 1 seed for a reason, so this will be the biggest measuring stick yet of how far Washington has come and what more might be needed.
That's for the future. For now, here are five winners and two losers from Washington's frantic triumph a the Buccaneers en route to the divisional round.
Winners and losers from Commanders' triumph at the Buccaneers
Winner No. 1
Jeremy Chinn - Commanders S
This was a war of attrition. The Washington Commanders' defense got a helping hand from the offense, who controlled the clock effectively. However, their deficiencies in the trenches and Daron Payne going out for a period with a dislocated finger didn't do them any favors.
It looked for a long time as if rookie running back Bucky Irving was going to take over the game. The Buccaneers got their most explosive threat more involved in the second half and he was starting to dictate the tempo. Washington needed someone to step up and meet the former Oregon standout head-on.
Jeremy Chinn was the guy.
The Commanders utilized Chinn closer to the line of scrimmage with great success. This was where the standout safety thrived as a rookie with the Carolina Panthers, so the gamble paid off handsomely.
Chinn arrived violently at the contact point and made almost every tackle attempt count. Whether it was Irving or anyone else, the Southern Illinois product brought intensity and physicality to oncoming runners that his teammates fed off.
If there was any doubt about Chinn's importance to the Commanders' plans long-term, this performance should provide crystal clear clarity. General manager Adam Peters would be wise to have a contract offer ready when Washington's postseason quest concludes.