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NFL Wildcard Wrap: Commanders kick it up late to break playoff drought
AP • January 13th, 2025 6:10 pm
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels | Photo: AP
Jayden Daniels ran for a critical first down to set up Zane Gonzalez's 37-yard field goal that clanged off the right upright and went through as time expired, as the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in an NFC wildcard game for their first playoff win in 6945 days.
Daniels, playing with a bandage beneath his right eye after his face was bloodied, became the third rookie quarterback in three years to win a playoff game.
The Commanders (13-5) will face No. 1 seeds the Detroit Lions (15-2) in the divisional round.
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (10-8) missed several opportunities and the veteran quarterback committed a critical turnover in the fourth quarter.
The Bucs couldn't get one yard on two tries from the Commanders' 12 and settled for a field goal to tie the game before Washington's winning drive on Sunday night (Monday NZDT).
Daniels threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, joining C.J. Stroud and Brock Purdy as rookie QBs to win playoff games in the past three seasons.
In Buffalo, Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes at the Buffalo Bills methodically wore down the Denver Broncos to claim a 31-7 win in their wildcard playoff game.
Leaning on a balance offence, the Bills scored on six of their first seven drives in building a 31-7 lead in a game where they finished with a 23-minute edge in time of possession.
Buffalo didn't flinch after rookie quarterback Bo Nix capped Denver's five-play game-opening drive with a 43-yard touchdown pass to Troy Franklin.
On Buffalo's next possession, Allen completed a 55-yard pass to Curtis Samuel on the first snap of the fourth quarter.
Buffalo's James Cook scores a touchdown in their wildcard playoff win over Denver | Photo: AP
The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills advanced to the divisional round for a fifth straight post-season, and will face the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens next weekend.
The Ravens, coming off a 28-14 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, routed Buffalo 35-10 at Baltimore in Week 4 this season.
The outing will mark the second playoff meeting between Allen and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson after Buffalo defeated the Ravens 17-3 in the 2020 divisional round.
"Well, they got after us earlier this year," Allen said of facing the Ravens again.
"So we've got a lot of film to watch. It's a great team. It's a great quarterback, obviously with Lamar and what he's able to do. He's so fun to watch, but I'll be watching their defence this week, so that's our focus."
James Cook finished with 120 yards rushing for the Bills.
Allen finished 20 of 26 for 272 yards and increased his playoff total to 23 passing touchdowns, breaking the franchise record of 21 held by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
In Philadelphia, quarterback Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes in his first game since a three-week concussion layoff as the host Eagles rode their NFL-best defence to a 22-10 wildcard playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.
Jalen Hurts played with freedom in his return from a concussion layoff | Photo: AP
Hurts threw for a modest 131 yards but played with no hesitation for the NFC East champions, who will host either the LA Rams or the Minnesota Vikings in a division game next week at the Linc.
Saquon Barkley, who led the NFL in rushing with 2005 yards, had 119 yards in his Eagles' post-season debut.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw for 212 yards but was intercepted three times as he nursed a sore right elbow.
