NFL's Wildcard Weekend
FULL-TIME: Washington Commanders 23-20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - sixth seed Commanders produce upset
FULL-TIME: Green Bay Packers 10-22 Philadelphia Eagles - number two seed Eagles advance to Divisional Round
FULL-TIME Denver Broncos 7-31 Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen-led Bills dominate at home
Washington Commanders 13-17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington go for it on fourth and goal but Tampa Bay hold firm!
A pass interference call put Washington in the redzone but Jayden Daniels can't take advantage.
The Bucs take over on downs.
Washington Commanders 13-17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Austin Ekeler has a couple of goes on the ground but there's not much doing.
Washington are on second and 11 at the Bucs' 24-yard line as we reach the end of the third quarter.
It's getting tense in Tampa Bay.
Washington Commanders 13-17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington go for it on fourth and five, and it pays off as Jayden Daniels fires a 14-yard pass to Zach Ertz over the middle.
They're up to Tampa Bay's 23-yard line.
Washington Commanders 13-17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Now then. It had been a cagey game after Tampa Bay opened the scoring with an early field goal.
But now it's really come to life. This is much more like what we expected from two of this season's biggest scorers.
Washington Commanders 13-17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Image source, Getty ImagesBaker Mayfield keeps handing it off for Bucky Irving to chip away at Washington and get within four yards of the end zone, where Mayfield finds Irving on the outside to run it in for Tampa Bay's second touchdown.
That 10-play drive puts Tampa Bay back in front.
Washington Commanders 13-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Was a lovely finish to the end of the regular season for the Buccaneers.
Not only did they beat the New Orleans Saints 27-19 to secure the NFC South title but on the game's very last play, Baker Mayfield found Mike Evans and the veteran receiver gained nine yards to reach 1,004 yards for the season.
That meant that Evans, who helped the Bucs win the Super Bowl in 2020, became just the second player to claim more than 1,000 receiving yards in 11 straight seasons - after NFL legend Jerry Rice. Not bad company.
Washington Commanders 13-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Collinsworth
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver on NBC
Mike Evans is like a tank coming across the field. With an ordinary receiver you can bump them, you can hit them, you can jam them and throw them off their route. But you can't do that to a tank!
Washington Commanders 13-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Running back Bucky Irving makes a couple of short gains for the Bucs before Baker Mayfield again targets Mike Evans, making an 18-yard completion to get Tampa Bay into Washington territory.
Washington Commanders 13-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield had a career-best season with highs in passing yards (4,500) and touchdown passes (41) in the regular season.
He's had four play-off starts and registered 1,153 passing yards and 10 touchdown throws - but even beyond the stats it's his desire, will to win and leadership that make him such a danger in one-off games.
He's back out as the Bucs aim to regain the lead.
Image source, Getty ImagesWashington Commanders 13-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles speaking to NBC at half-time:
"We stopped shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties, if we get off to a good start on first down we end up doing OK. We've got to continue that. We've got to get Washington on third and long."
Washington Commanders 13-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brian Robinson Jr fails to punch it in, then Jayden Daniels' pass towards Terry McLaurin in the corner goes incomplete, so Zane Gonzalez chips in a 22-yard field goal to edge the Commanders back in front.
Washington Commanders 10-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Commanders bring in back-up quarterback Marcus Mariota on third and one, and he does enough on the quarterback sneak to get the first down.
Jayden Daniels then comes back in and picks out Dyami Brown for two big gains back-to-back.
Washington are already up to Tampa Bay's three-yard line.
Image source, Getty ImagesWashington Commanders 10-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The second half is under way in Florida and Washington have made a flying start.
Washington Commanders 10-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Collinsworth
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver on NBC
Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore have probably one of the most bitter individual rivalries we've ever seen in the NFL. Those two, before the game is over, we're going to see some fireworks.
Washington Commanders 10-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Buccaneers gained 74 yards in seven plays there, capping the drive with a touchdown to make it all square at half-time.
All to play for in the second half in Florida.
We're gonna pop the kettle on. Feel free to do the same, we'll be back in five.
Washington Commanders 10-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Collinsworth
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver on NBC
You know what decides play-off football games? Plays like this.
Quan Martin drops underneath the coverage, Baker Mayfield throws it within an inch of the top of his helmet.
Not only did he beat Marshon Lattimore on the outside, he threw it over the helmet of Martin. What a drive that was.
Washington Commanders 10-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Image source, Getty ImagesThis time there's no stopping Mike Evans as the veteran receiver jinks inside and Baker Mayfield hits him with a dart for the Bucs' first touchdown.
The hosts add the extra point to get themselves level 10 seconds before half-time. Game on.
Washington Commanders 10-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield again targets Mike Evans and cornerback Marshon Lattimore gives up a penalty for pass interference in the end zone.
Washington Commanders 10-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Collinsworth
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver on NBC
Mike Evans is just so good, teams are so afraid of him going down the field deep. When he stops on that little turn-around, physically it is so tough to play against that guy.
Washington Commanders 10-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield makes two passes to Mike Evans for 11 yards then 20 yards to get Tampa Bay into the red zone.
The Bucs then waste a few seconds before calling a timeout 17 seconds before half-time.