Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By Dominic Feo
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers season came to a close on Jan. 12 at Raymond James Stadium against the Washington Commanders in a 23-20 first-round loss.
Wide receiver Mike Evans got the party started, catching two long passes from quarterback Baker Mayfield that helped the offense set up a 50-yard field goal from kicker Chase McLaughlin.
Washington’s first possession went to the Bucs 20-yard line, where the Buccaneers stopped them on fourth down.
After a Tampa Bay punt, the Commanders went on a 17-play drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to wide receiver Dyami Brown. Brown’s touchdown catch made the score 7-3 with 9:26 left in the second quarter.
The drive ate up nine minutes off the game clock. The Buccaneers followed with a three-and-out.
The Washington Commanders kept the ball in their hands for a total of 35:26 minutes while the Buccaneers were on offense for just 24:34 minutes.
The Commanders clock control kept the Buccaneers top five offense off the field, thus preventing it from finding a rhythm.
Following a 52-yard field goal from Commander’s kicker Zane Gonzalez, Tampa Bay managed to tie the game up 10-10 at the end of the first half with a one-yard touchdown pass to Evans.
Washington received the ball to start the second half, where they took back the lead after a 22-yard Gonzalez field goal.
Rookie running back Bucky Irving had a quiet first half, but he took over on Tampa’s next possession. Irving either ran or caught the ball in seven of the Buccaneers next ten plays. Irving capped off his stellar drive with a 4-yard touchdown catch that put the Buccaneers up 17-13 with 4:31 left in the third quarter.
Washington managed to reach Tampa Bay’s 1-yard line, but the Buccaneers defense held strong for the next four plays, leaving the Commanders with zero points to show for it.
The goal-line stand by the Buccaneers defense gave the offense a perfect opportunity to put the game away with a touchdown. Unfortunately, the offense squandered that chance just four plays later.
A mistimed exchange from Mayfield to wide receiver Jalen McMillan on a sweep caused a fumble that Washington recovered. The costly mistake placed Washington right back in scoring position and put an already exhausted Tampa Bay defense back on the field.
Daniels took advantage of the Buccaneer’s blunder by throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terry McLaurin. 20-17 Commanders.
Mayfield connected with McMillan and tight end Cade Otton to get the Buccaneers in field goal range. If Tampa Bay could have converted a third-and-one on Washington’s 12-yard-line, the Buccaneers could have scored a touchdown to take the lead.
Instead, an imperfect snap from rookie center Graham Barton forced Mayfield to hand the ball off to Irving who was swiftly dogpiled by defenders behind the line of scrimmage. Tampa Bay settled for a field goal to tie the game 20-20.
Failing to score a touchdown would prove to be the end for the Buccaneers season as Daniels and the Commanders offense chewed the last four minutes of the game away to set up a 37-yard field goal try for Gonzalez to win the game. Gonzalez’s kick bounced off the right goalpost and in for the Commanders first playoff win since 2005.
With that kick, the Buccaneers fifth straight postseason trip ended sooner than expected.
Head coach Todd Bowles took accountability and provided some hopeful optimism during the post-game press conference.
“We had chances to win this ballgame, obviously it wasn’t good enough, we think we have a very good football team when everybody’s clicking on all cylinders… we’ve got to take it on the chin and get better in the future,” Bowles said.
Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Now the team must face the tough questions that come with every offseason.
Will any players leave during free agency? Who should the Buccaneers draft? Who will be on the coaching staff next season? Will linebacker Lavonte David retire?
It is now up to general manager Jason Licht and the front office to provide answers if the team wants to return to the playoffs next season.
