The Washington Commanders won their first playoff game in 19 years because they didn’t crack when the pressure was greatest.
Their opponents, an experienced team playing at home, made a few crucial mistakes at key moments. As they have done throughout most of this magical season, Washington and their miracle worker rookie quarterback seized the opportunities they were given and walked out of Raymond James Stadium with the win.
There are a lot of game balls to hand out. Of course, Jayden Daniels was the most important man on the field. Veteran offensive weapons Terry McLaurin and Austin Ekeler made clutch plays. The oft-maligned Dyami Brown had the best game of his career.
On defense, Bobby Wagner made up for allowing himself to be run over by Baker Mayfield in the first half with a massive fumble recovery in the second.
But the top game ball for this win goes to Dan Quinn.
Dan Quinn has the Commanders ready for every eventuality
A team doesn’t consistently make so many big plays late in games by chance. In his post-game interview, McLaurin talked about what Quinn calls “gotta have it” moments. The Commanders discuss them. They plan for them. They practice these moments. It helps to have a preternaturally poised quarterback, but this entire team plays its best when it matters most.
That comes from the top.
The Commanders' offensive line was dominated for most of the game. Once again, Washington's running backs were constantly swarmed in the backfield. Brian Robinson Jr. carried the ball 10 times for 16 rushing yards. He had one five-yard run. That means that Washington’s lead running back totaled 11 yards on his other nine carries. Most teams cannot win like that.
Washington may not have been able to run the ball in when they got down close to the goal line, but they did not make a mistake the way Tampa Bay did on a third-and-one play from the 12-yard line. It appeared that center Graham Barton snapped the ball early, dooming a play that could well have milked several more minutes off the clock and led to a go-ahead touchdown.
The Commanders' defense never really stopped Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers scored on three of their last four drives. But on the other, Mayfield fumbled an exchange with wide receiver Jalen McMillan, and Wagner pounced on the loose ball.
It was an enormous play. Mayfield has been in the league seven years but he made a costly mistake at crunch time. Neither Daniels nor any of his teammates committed a turnover.
The Commanders have been spectacular at converting fourth downs all season. With the pressure at its greatest, they did it again on Sunday Night Football.
They converted one on their first touchdown drive when the 200-pound Ekeler bulled over 283-pound defensive lineman Logan Hall. They did it again on their final touchdown when Daniels and McLaurin — Washington’s two best players — combined to find the end zone on a fourth and goal from the two-yard line. They failed to convert two earlier red zone fourth downs, but when it mattered most, they triumphed.
That is a function of practice and of belief.
Quinn has gone for those plays all season and his faith bore fruit. The Commanders' next opponent, the Detroit Lions, has been the best team in the league this season in no small part due to a very similar coaching philosophy from Dan Campbell.
He goes for it on fourth down all the time, even when it seems like the wrong call. He doesn’t always convert, but Campbell has built something in Detroit. His players love the trust he places in them. They seem to genuinely believe they will succeed. So far in 2024, they have done just that.
On the final drive of the game, Robinson was dropped for a loss on the second play. Two plays later, Ekeler was stuffed at the line for no gain. But when the clock got down inside of two minutes and Tampa Bay desperately needed to stop the Commanders, the veteran free-agent signing burst up the middle for eight vital yards.
Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegretti performed a textbook double team on Hall. Andrew Wylie sealed off two players on the backside. The Commanders' best lineman, Sam Cosmi, blew Tampa Bay's imposing nose tackle Vita Vea three yards off the line.
Tampa Bay once again stuffed a Commanders' runner on the next play, leaving Washington with a third and two. Convert and Washington likely win. Get stuffed again, and the Buccaneers still have life.
The Buccaneers contained Daniels’ running all game long. He had managed just one first down with his legs. For the year, he had been averaging better than three first-down runs. Of course, he got this one. Washington could then run out the clock and kick their game-winning field goal, doink and all.
When the game mattered most — when their opponents wilted under the pressure — Quinn’s team played their best football. And so they get to play again next week against the best in the league.
They may not win. But they will be ready.