The NFL playoffs have begun, kicking off with Wild Card Weekend, which featured two games on Saturday, three on Sunday, and one additional game on Monday. Overall, the games were relatively uneventful. However, one game that stood out was the matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and our Team of the Week, the Washington Commanders.
Jayden Daniels is the Future
Daniels, the second overall pick from the 2024 draft, has made a significant impact throughout the league. His rookie season has been nothing short of remarkable. In this particular game, Daniels completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and threw touchdowns to wide receivers Dyami Brown and Terry McLaurin. He was also the Commanders’ leading rusher with 13 carries for 36 yards.
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For the season, Daniels ranks 16th in passing yards (3,568), is tied for 10th in touchdown passes (25), and holds the fourth-best QBR in the league (70.5). Daniels is a dangerous opposing quarterback due to his dual-threat abilities as both a rusher and a passer. He can extend plays when the pocket collapses and deliver the ball to where only his receiver can catch it.
Pure joy and excitement for Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin. pic.twitter.com/FvJri3tQcB
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) January 13, 2025
First Playoff Win in 19 Years
The last time the Washington Commanders won a playoff game was in 2005. That year, the iPod Nano was released and “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” premiered. The Super Bowl champion was the New England Patriots, who defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21.
Fittingly, Washington’s last playoff win in 2005 was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Commanders fans have waited 19 years for this moment.
Zane Gonzalez
Washington secured their win with a field goal as time expired, courtesy of Zane Gonzalez, who has handled the Commanders’ kicking duties since early November. Outside of a shaky Week 13 performance against the Tennessee Titans, Gonzalez has been perfect on field-goal attempts. This past weekend, he went 3-for-3 on field goals, including the game-winning kick.
Safe to say that Commanders announces Bram Weinstein and London Fletcher were excited at Zane Gonzalez’s game-winning field goal. pic.twitter.com/ad6YqIpAXn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 13, 2025
Detroit vs. Washington
The Commanders certainly have their work cut out for them as they prepare to face the top-seeded Detroit Lions. If Danielsx can find a way to effectively break down the formidable Lions defense in the noisy atmosphere of Ford Field, then Washington could be on the path to their first Super Bowl victory since 1991. Interestingly, the team they defeated in the conference round back in 1991 was also the Detroit Lions. NFL history certainly has a funny way of repeating itself.
The Commanders will play against the Lions in Detroit on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST. The game will be available on FOX Sports and is the second matchup of the 2024 Divisional Round, where true Super Bowl contenders are revealed.
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