The Buccaneers' wild-card clash with the Commanders had all the drama fans might request for. It had the tight plays. The nail-biting minutes. And even a doinked game-winning basket that summarized a heartbreaker. Amidst it all, one play stood out. A messed up handoff that turned the tide.
The Bucs' star QB Baker Mayfield took complete duty for the expensive mistake. “It falls on me,” Mayfield confessed. “The very first all year that took place. Clearly timing of it is not terrific.” Mayfield mishandled a handoff to pass receiver Jalen McMillan. That far too late in the 4th quarter. Tampa Bay was holding on to a 17-13 lead at that point, having actually required a turnover on downs at their own 3-yard line. What followed basically moved the momentum in the Commanders' favor.
Baker Mayfield states the fumble late in the video game on a messed up handoff was on him– he states it was a Jet sweep to Jalen McMillan which the timing on it was off pic.twitter.com/JaR2wXqddU
— River Wells (@riverhwells) January 13, 2025
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Leaders linebacker Bobby Wagner caught the loose ball at the Bucs' 13-yard line. And he established a definitive goal. Mayfield's disappointment showed up as he paced the sidelines. As he understood the error had actually unlocked for Washington. The fumble was not the only play that formed the result. It undoubtedly ended up being the turning point.
The Commanders taken advantage of the turnover. Novice quarterback Jayden Daniels discovered Terry McLaurin for a five-yard goal. This swung the momentum as the Commanders took a 20-17 lead. Tampa Bay then handled to connect the video game with a basket. Washington's game-winning late drive consumed up the clock. And it left no time at all for a resurgence.
The 23-20 loss wasn't almost one error. Even Mayfield acknowledged that the mistake ended up being the specifying minute. His responsibility resonated with fans and colleagues. The sting of a missed out on chance remained. Coach Todd Bowles had a various message for the group.
Todd Bowles sends out a basic message to the locker space amidst Mayfield's admission
Head coach Todd Bowles didn't avoid attending to the group postgame. His message? Own it and progress. “We aren't gon na point fingers. We had our possibilities. We had our possibilities to win among those ballgame. I would state we weren't sufficient,” Bowles stated. “I believe we have an excellent football group when everyone's kicking on all cylinders. We got ta be clicking all the cylinders. Effort was impressive when we hung together all the year,” he included, reviewing the group's season-long run.
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The Bucs' defense had actually been an intense area. It held Washington scoreless on numerous red-zone journeys. They had not permitted a second-half goal in 6 video games before McLaurin's catch.
