Sunday’s chapter of Wild Card Weekend concludes at Raymond James Stadium the place the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play host to the Washington Commanders.
It is a acquainted spot for these groups as they started their 2024 campaigns in Tampa, squaring off again in Week 1. The Bucs got here out victorious in that contest, however the emergence of No. 2 total choose Jayden Daniels over the course of the season has the Commanders as a darkish horse in these playoffs.
On high of that current historical past of taking part in earlier this 12 months, these franchises have been intertwined within the playoffs as effectively. Washington is looking for its first playoff win since 2005 when it defeated the Buccaneers on this actual spot, on the highway throughout wild-card weekend. In the meantime, that is the fifth straight season Tampa Bay has reached the playoffs, a run that features a wild-card win over Washington throughout the 2020 season.
As we look ahead to this newest matchup to unfold, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of this contest with our full preview beneath.
Commanders vs. Buccaneers the place to observe
Date: Sunday, Jan. 12 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
TV: NBC | Stream: fubo (try for free)
Observe: CBS Sports App
Odds: Buccaneers -3, O/U 50.5 (via SportsLine consensus)
When the Commanders have the ball
Daniels is the straw that stirs the drink on this Commanders offense. The No. 2 total choose closed the guide on a historic rookie season, breaking the regular-season information for the very best completion share (69%) and speeding yards (891) by a rookie quarterback. His 4,459 mixed passing and speeding yards are additionally the fourth-most by a rookie all time. That mix of effectivity passing the soccer and his speeding capabilities have made the LSU product a matchup nightmare on the NFL stage.
Whereas Daniels has raised the expertise round him, he does have some dynamic weapons at his disposal as effectively. Brian Robinson Jr. enters these playoffs after a profession 12 months within the Commanders backfield. Because of the presence of Daniels offering slightly extra guesswork for opposing run defenses, Robinson had career-best marks in speeding yards (799), speeding touchdowns (8), and yards per carry (4.3). Fellow again Austin Ekeler, who signed with Washington final offseason, ash supplied a strong pass-catching presence within the backfield as effectively.
When Daniels drops again to cross, nevertheless, veteran wideout Terry McLaurin is the principle goal. McLaurin leads the group in each significant receiving class, together with receptions (82), receiving yards (1,096), and receiving touchdowns (13). Behind him, Zach Ertz has additionally been a gentle outlet within the passing recreation. That is been notably true down the stretch the place Daniels has seemed for him extra throughout scoring alternatives. Ertz has tallied six touchdowns in his final seven video games to spherical out the common season.
When the Buccaneers have the ball
Sam Darnold has captured a whole lot of the headlines for his resurgence with the Vikings in 2024, however what Baker Mayfield has completed because the Buccaneers beginning quarterback over the past two seasons is simply as, if no more spectacular. The Bucs QB comes into these playoffs after a stellar common season the place he grew to become simply the third quarterback ever to file a minimum of 4,500 yards passing, 40 passing touchdowns, and have a 70% or higher completion fee. And he did that regardless of the Buccaneers shedding proficient wideout Chris Godwin halfway by way of the season.
In fact, Mike Evans continues to be a power on the vast receiver place in Tampa and recorded his eleventh consecutive 1,000-yard season in Week 18. He enters the playoffs with 709 receiving yards within the postseason, which is the fourth-most amongst lively gamers. He ought to show to be a troublesome matchup for the Commanders secondary together with rookie wideout Jalen McMillan, who has began to warmth up. The rookie cross catcher has scored a receiving landing in every of his final 5 video games coming into Wild Card Weekend. One other X issue within the passing recreation — notably within the pink zone — could possibly be tight finish Cade Otton. He is missed the final three video games on account of a knee harm however did follow absolutely to finish the week.
Within the backfield, Bucky Irving has been a breakout star. His 1,514 yards from scrimmage have been the second-most in Buccaneers historical past and probably the most by any rookie within the NFL this season. In six of his final seven video games to conclude the common season, Irving topped 90 scrimmage yards.
Commanders vs. Buccaneers key matchup
The emergence of Irving poses an enormous drawback for the Commanders. One of many weak factors in Washington’s protection is its incapacity to cease the run. This season, the unit allowed a 4.8 yards-per-rush common, which was tied for the third-highest within the NFL. Total, the Commanders surrendered 137.5 speeding yards per recreation, which was additionally third-worst within the league. In the meantime, Irving comes into the playoffs topping 100 yards speeding in three of his final six video games, so he’s heating up on the actual proper time for Tampa Bay and the precise mistaken time for the Commanders as they give the impression of being to tug off an upset.
Commanders vs. Buccaneers prediction
As we famous above, Irving could possibly be the difference-maker on this recreation. If he will get rolling on the bottom, that permits the Buccaneers to dictate the tempo of this recreation and, possibly extra importantly, will preserve Daniels on the sideline if they’ll prolong drives through the speeding assault. As soon as Irving will get right into a groove and Washington tries to play slightly nearer to the road of scrimmage to cease him, that is when Mayfield and Evans will strike. That creates a tough matchup for a Commanders group that has struggled on the highway, proudly owning a 3-4-1 ATS file.
Projected rating: Buccaneers 30, Commanders 23
The choose: Buccaneers -3
