The Buccaneers’ wild-card clash with the Commanders had all the drama fans could ask for. It had the tight plays. The nail-biting moments. And even a doinked game-winning field goal that summed up a heartbreaker. But amid it all, one play stood out. A botched handoff that turned the tide.

The Bucs’ star QB Baker Mayfield took full responsibility for the costly error. “It falls on me,” Mayfield admitted. “The first all year that happened. So obviously timing of it is not great.” Mayfield mishandled a handoff to wide receiver Jalen McMillan. That too late in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay was clinging to a 17-13 lead at that point, having forced a turnover on downs at their own 3-yard line. But what followed essentially transferred the momentum in the Commanders’ favor.

Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner pounced on the loose ball at the Bucs’ 13-yard line. And he set up a decisive touchdown. Mayfield’s frustration was visible as he paced the sidelines. As he knew the misstep had opened the door for Washington. The fumble was not the only play that shaped the outcome. But it undeniably became the turning point.

The Commanders capitalized on the turnover. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels found Terry McLaurin for a five-yard touchdown. This swung the momentum as the Commanders took a 20-17 lead. Tampa Bay then managed to tie the game with a field goal. But Washington’s game-winning late drive ate up the clock. And it left no time for a comeback.

The 23-20 loss wasn’t just about one mistake. But even Mayfield acknowledged that the error became the defining moment. His accountability resonated with fans and teammates. But the sting of a missed opportunity lingered. However, coach Todd Bowles had a different message for the team.

Todd Bowles sends a simple message to the locker room amid Mayfield’s admission

Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t shy away from addressing the team postgame. His message? Own it and move forward. “We aren’t gonna point fingers. We had our chances. We had our chances to win one of those ball games. I would say we weren’t good enough,” Bowles said. “I think we have a very good football team when everybody’s kicking on all cylinders. We gotta be clicking all the cylinders. So effort was outstanding when we hung together all the year,” he added, reflecting on the team’s season-long run.

The Bucs’ defense had been a bright spot. It held Washington scoreless on multiple red-zone trips. They hadn’t allowed a second-half touchdown in six games before McLaurin’s catch. On the other hand, questions have been raised about Bowles’ playcalling and time management. The HC also had an answer for that.

“After the next play they only needed a yard for the first down, so we had to let it play out,” Bowles said. “Before the last play, we wanted to call timeout… and then we had a personnel problem, so we called it later than normal.” The coach praised their resilience but stressed the need for consistency in all phases. But critics are still questioning how the Bucs burned their timeouts inefficiently.

The loss marked the end of Tampa Bay’s playoff run and added another playoff defeat to Bowles’ record as head coach. Questions about his ability to take the team further remain with a 1-3 postseason record.

Baker Mayfield’s accountability and Bowles’ leadership will shape their path forward as the Bucs face an offseason of reflection. And they’ll need to make strategic adjustments. Adjustments that will address these gaps and capitalize on their potential next season.