Watch: Commanders win their first playoff game since 2005

Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble during the fourth quarter of a NFC wild-card playoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Watch: Commanders win first playoff game since 2005 thanks to game-winning doink

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jan 12, 2025 11:29 PM ET

Going into Sunday's wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it had been nearly two decades (since the 2005 season) since the Washington Commanders franchise had won a playoff game.

They snapped that drought on Sunday with a 23-20 win over the Buccaneers.

It not only came down to the final play of the game, it also came down to a matter of inches.

Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez hit a game-winning, 37-yard field goal as time expired, with a little help from the right upright.

He doinked it in.

A DOINK TO THE DIVISIONAL ROUND!!!! @COMMANDERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/TRwyX11zcZ
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025

It really does not get any closer than that. If the kick had been one-yard longer, if the wind had gusted in the wrong direction at the exact wrong moment, if Gonzalez had simply kicked it a few inches to the right, the game remains tied and goes into overtime where anything could have happened.

Instead, he had just the right angle and just the right distance to get it to bounce in.

The Commanders are now on to the divisional round for the first time since the 2005 season. They will play at the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions next Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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