In a gripping wild card matchup, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let an opportunity slip away against the Washington Commanders, ending their season with a narrow 23-20 defeat. The game took a turn for the worse for the Buccaneers early in the fourth quarter when their defense made a remarkable goal-line stand, stopping two attempts from the 1-yard line and forcing a turnover on downs.
Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, the offense could not capitalize on this momentum shift. Just moments after this defensive triumph, quarterback Baker Mayfield mishandled a simple jet sweep play, resulting in a fumble that was recovered by Washington’s veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner. This blunder set up the Commanders with prime field position, allowing them to score and ultimately shift the momentum in their favor.
Mayfield, whose fumble marked the only turnover in the game, took full responsibility for the mistake, acknowledging its critical impact. “That comes back to me, just timing it up correctly,” he said in the post-game conference. His struggles with fumbles this season—tying with Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins for the league lead—were evident as this costly error loomed large in the crucial moments of the game.
In addition to the fumble, Mayfield’s unit faced another setback shortly before. They had a pivotal chance to convert a third-and-1 from the Washington 14-yard line. However, rookie center Graham Barton’s early snap due to confusion about an offsides call led to a 2-yard loss for running back Bucky Irving. This failure to convert forced Tampa Bay to settle for a game-tying field goal, after which the offense would not see the ball again.
Reflecting on the offensive mistakes, Mayfield acknowledged that the team’s downfall stemmed from “dumb stuff” that cost them the game, saying, “It just came down to errors on the offense.” Despite the disappointment, he remained optimistic about the team’s future. He praised the talent and resilience of his teammates, especially given that this was their fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
“There’s a lot to be proud of,” Mayfield stated. “This group fought, and there were a ton of guys that stepped up into huge roles throughout the year.” He expressed hope for the future, highlighting that the experience gained this season would build confidence among the young players on the roster.
In terms of performance, Mayfield still delivered an impressive game, completing 15 of 18 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, leading to a strong passer rating of 146.5. Even with the disappointing end to the season, he now has the entire offseason to reflect and prepare the Buccaneers for what he believes can be a significant postseason run next year.
Overall, while the Buccaneers saw their playoff hopes dashed, they can find encouragement in the growth of their young core and the potential they have as they look to rebound in the upcoming season.