Sunday night’s wild-card showdown between the Commanders and Todd Bowles‘ Bucs was everything you’d want from playoff football—high stakes, edge-of-your-seat drama, and a finish that felt like something out of a Hollywood script. Fans were locked in like it was the season finale of their favorite show, every play building the tension. With the clock winding down and the game hanging by a thread, both teams left it all on the field. It was the kind of game where you almost expect a last-second twist.

In the ‘what just happened’ wild card game on Sunday night, the Commanders edged the fight by the closest of margins. The most competitive game of the Wild Card round by a distance had everybody glued to their seats. Eyes wide open, waiting to see what would happen at any moment. After the close fight, the Commanders owned the night, sealing it with a clutch 23-20 finish. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles blames it all on the clock. The Bucs HC after the loss was asked in his post-game appearance, “Why did it take so long to call a timeout on that final Commanders drive?” To which he said, “We had a personnel problem so we called it later than normal.”

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This game, folks, was a real ‘wild’ wild card game. The Commanders had run down the clock perfectly. They called their final TO with the ball in Tampa Bay’s red zone with 3 seconds on the clock and the scores tied.  Everything was at stake. Zane Gonzalez must have felt the pressure as his kick added a final bit of drama. Attempting a 37-yard FG, his effort hit the right upright before bouncing favorably. This sent the Commanders to the divisional round with a 23-20 win.

As Jayden Daniels and the Commanders handed the Bucs a close defeat, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles dropped a confession about QB Baker Mayfield.

Todd Bowles credits Baker Mayfield for the Bucs’ recent success

The Tampa Bay had to claw their way through a tough season to even make it to the postseason. It wasn’t easy, but they kept grinding. They earned their spot in the wild-card round, but the road ended there. But good lord what a fight they put up though. Not even for a minute the Bucs made it easy for Jayden Daniels and Co. in this final game of theirs. Tough loss, but Bucs head coach Todd Bowles wasn’t shy about giving credit where it’s due. In the post-game media appearance, Bowles said, “We wouldn’t be here without Baker Mayfield.” And honestly, it’s hard to argue with that. Baker did his thing all season, and without him, who knows where they’d be? 

Mayfield has racked up 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. He is joint-second in the league for most TDs this season. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to winning in the playoffs. The Bucs, with the home-field advantage, were so close yet so far. In those final moments, you could see the disbelief on Baker Mayfield’s face. He just stood there, heartbroken, watching Zane Gonzalez sink that game-winning field goal. It was one of those moments where you’re like, ‘Did that just happen?’ All that hard work, the season, the stats… and it slipped away just like that. Tough break for the Bucs, but that’s playoff football for you.

And goodness gracious, Zane Gonzalez—what a hero! The guy who turned the dream of making it to the divisional round into a reality. The Commanders are gonna be singing Zane’s name all night. What an entertaining, gripping, breath-taking Sunday Night Football game that was!