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TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield found himself on the sidelines, donning a baseball cap and looking dejected, powerless to prevent the Washington Commanders from eliminating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the playoff contention.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter when Mayfield’s fumble led to a touchdown for the Commanders, giving them a temporary lead. The Buccaneers, despite their formidable offensive reputation, managed only a tying field goal on their next drive, ultimately leading to an early playoff exit.
A 37-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez, which took a deflection off the right upright as time ran out, secured a 23-20 victory for Washington during the wild-card matchup on Sunday night. The result left the Buccaneers reflecting on what might have unfolded had Jayden Daniels and the Washington offense not maintained possession for the last 4:41 of play.
The Buccaneers wrapped up their regular season at 10-8, bouncing back to claim six wins in their final seven games after enduring a four-game losing streak. This achievement also resulted in their fourth consecutive NFC South title, establishing a new franchise record.
Last season’s conclusion saw them perform well late in the campaign, where they triumphed in a home playoff game before facing a defeat against Detroit on the road in the divisional round.
“It’s disappointing because I believe in this team,” Mayfield expressed. “There’s a lot to take pride in, but it’s challenging to recognize that in this moment.”
Despite completing 15 of 18 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, Mayfield’s fumble following a mismanaged handoff to receiver Jalen McMillan provided the Commanders with a crucial advantage after the Buccaneers’ defense had stopped Washington on downs while they held onto a narrow 17-13 lead.
Coach Todd Bowles remarked, “We intended to execute a jet sweep. It’s unclear whether it was a problem with the handoff or the execution afterward. We can’t afford to lose field position like that.”
Linebacker Bobby Wagner capitalized on the fumble, recovering it at the Buccaneers’ 13-yard line, which set the stage for Daniels to throw his second touchdown pass and put the Commanders ahead at 20-17.
Mayfield managed to lead the Buccaneers down to the Commanders’ 12-yard line, but the drive stalled when he was stopped for no gain on a second-and-1 run, followed by Bucky Irving’s two-yard loss on third down.
Chase McLaughlin’s 32-yard field goal managed to tie the game, but Tampa Bay would not regain possession afterward.
“The defense had done an outstanding job getting us the ball back,” Mayfield acknowledged. “It’s unfortunate, but I take responsibility for it.”
This defeat came four months after the Buccaneers spoiled Daniels’ NFL debut with a decisive 37-20 victory in the season opener. Coach Bowles commented on the disappointment of the season’s conclusion, stating, “We don’t blame each other. We had opportunities to win, but it simply wasn’t enough.”
He also noted, “We view ourselves as a very capable football team when everything is functioning well. The effort was commendable throughout the season. We faced numerous challenges and now, we have to learn from this experience, take it on the chin, and improve moving forward.”
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