Playoff football, let’s talk about it.
Welcome to the playoffs. Football is a game of inches, but it’s also a game of quarters. Let’s dive into a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of some postseason Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ football. The 2024-2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it into the tournament. From this point forward no more games are guaranteed, each future contest must be earned— Round one, the Washington Commanders.
First Quarter:
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Beginning on offense, the Bucs looked like they still thought they needed to get Mike Evans to his 1,000-yard milestone. Starting with a toss to Evans on the first play of the game, the receiver tallied 34 total yards before the game’s introductory drive ended with three Chase McLaughlin points. 3-0, Bucs.
Despite a deep ball to Terry McLaurin, the Washington Commanders’ offense stalled out inside of field goal range with an incomplete pass on fourth down. Jaden Daniels’ second chance would come quickly. Following a Tampa’s first punt, Jayden Daniels found a bit of groove heading into the game’s second period.
Second Quarter:
With quarter number two getting underway, Washington had possession in Tampa Bay territory and a quick first down. Faced with their second fourth down of the game, Dan Quinn stayed aggressive. Opting to leave his offense on the field again would be a decision that would prove fruitful— A new set of downs and ultimately a touchdown would follow. 17 plays, 92 yards and a wide open touchdown pass where wide might be a large understatement. Jayden Daniels to Dyami Brown and the Commanders grabbed the lead. 7-3, Washington.
Another Buccaneers’ kick set up the Commanders to respond with a kick of their own. Unfortunately, for Buccaneers’ fans the Bucs’ kick left the foot of Jack Browning, Washington’s was off the toe of Zane Gonzalez— extending their lead. 10-3, Commanders.
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Evoking flashbacks of last week’s game against New Orleans, Baker Mayfield took off up the middle scrambling past and through defenders for a team-uplifting first down. Tampa Bay took that momentum and ran with it. Liam Coen and Baker Mayfield gave all those in attendance what they came to see, Mike Evans against Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore gets a significant amount of credit for his play against Evans. Prior to tonight, the two had only met up once before in the postseason. In that matchup, Evans came away with a pivotal score. Tonight’s matchup would be noteworthy because it would mark the first time the two would suit up without the rest of the New Orleans Saints’ defense. Minus a strong defensive unit, who the Buccaneers have had team-wide struggles against, Lattimore versus Evans looked like a bit of a mismatch for the better part of the first half. Evans put an exclamation point on the end of that statement with the last three plays of the half, finishing with three straight passes sent in his direction— A catch, a pass interference, and then a second catch. That second grab put Evans in the end zone and tied the game at 10. Evans finished the half with five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Third Quarter:
Washington’s offense would be first up in the second half. A promising drive took them down inside the Tampa Bay five-yard line where the Buccaneers’ defense deployed a Todd Bowles classic— Bend but don’t break. Three points gave Washington the lead but simultaneously exist as a missed opportunity in the context of the moment. 13-10, Washington. For the Buccaneers, the next 10 plays were a beautiful artistry. Tampa took the ball 72 yards, in just under six minutes. Baker Mayfield continued to find Mike Evans, working his matchup against Lattimore, but Liam Coen turned to his running game— Sticking with what ‘brung’ them. Coen remembering what the staple of his offense has been led to a Bucky Irving touchdown and seven more Tampa Bay Buccaneer points. 17-13, Bucs.
Fourth Quarter:
On a drive that began late in quarter number three, Washington began the final period of regulation with the ball and a Zyon McCollum pass interference penalty. The penalty gave Washington a first and goal, just a yard from six points. Tampa’s defense then preceded to put on a repeat performance— Getting a goal line stand, this time Washington had no interest in taking a short field goal. Their decision to go for it on fourth down would prove costly, an incomplete pass, no points on the board, and Buccaneers’ ball.
The failed fourth down would lead to a very short-lived trip to the bench for Jayden Daniels as just four plays later Washington would take possession back on a fumbled handoff between Baker Mayfield and Jalen McMillan. Bobby Wagner’s recovery handed Washington a duplicate scenario, fourth down, with the option to kick a short field goal or go for broke. Once again, Dan Quinn showed faith in his offense— This time he was rewarded. Jayden Daniels dropped back and found Terry McLaurin for a touchdown. 20-17, Washington.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay offense were able to regroup and work their way back into Chase McLaughlin’s range, however, the curious sequence that played out leading up to his kick may play out for a long time in the mind’s of Tampa Bay fans— A peculiar Baker Mayfield run up the middle where he appeared to have wanted to hand the ball off to Bucky Irving prior to keeping it himself netted zero yards. On the next play, Graham Barton seemingly snapped the ball prior to Baker Mayfield or any of his fellow teammates being prepared to run a play. With the timing severely thrown off, Bucky Irving’s run was shutdown for a loss and Tampa Bay was forced to settle for field goal. 20-20, tie.
Washington, with two timeouts and a quarterback who has proven to be a clutch performer in end-of-game situations, had a chance at their storybook ending. The Commanders were across midfield before the two-minute warning put a paused on the action. Post the two-minute break, Washington broke the threshold of field goal range. Zane Gonzalez trotted out for a 37-yard field goal and the victory. 23-20, Washington advances.
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