Wild card – Commanders at Buccaneers game recap: 1st quarter summary; Tampa Bay leads 3-0 after 15 minutes

First Quarter

Washington kicked off to Tampa Bsy, who start the game at the 30-yard line following a touchback.

Mike Evans earned a first down against Marshon Lattimore on the first play of the game, but the defense allowed just 1 yards on the next two plays to bring up 3rd & 9 from the 42-yard line, which Mayfield converted by hitting Mike Evans for 23 yards.

Two plays later, it was 3rd & 7 at the Washington 32 yard line, and an incomplete pass to McMillan deep to the right into triple coverage brought on the field goal team.

Chase McLaughlin drilled the field goal to open the scoring. 3-0 in favor of the home team. The scoring drive covered 36 yards in 8 plays.

The Commanders started their first offensive drive of the game at the 33-yard line following a return by Luke McCaffrey.

Washington opened with a throw-away from Daniels under pressure, followed by a run by Brian Robinson to bring up 3rd & 6. On the money down, Daniels, out of a 2-back set, hit Terry McLaurin for 35 yards down the left sideline to the TB 28-yard line on a throw that hit Terry in-stride under tight coverage.

Two plays later, it was 3rd & 2 following an 8-yard scramble to the right by JD5. On 3rd down at the 20-yard line, Daniels scrambled left for no gain, tackled by Lavonte David a the sideline.

On 4th down, Daniels dirted the ball on a pass play that had no one open, turning the ball over on downs.

Tampa has 80 yards of grass between the line of scrimmage and the goal line with 07:45 remaining in the fist quarter.

TB picked up two first downs on the next three plays to reach the 48-yard line.

The Bucs earned 2 yards on two runs by Bucky Irving to bring up 3rd & 8 at midfield. On 3rd down, Baker Mayfield was under pressure and scrambled for a yard. The Commanders defense had held to force a punt.

Following a fair catch by Jamison Crowder, Washington took the field at the 8-yard line for their second drive with 03:34 left in the first quarter.

After a pair of short pass completions, it was 3rd & 6 at the 12-yard line. Daniels scrambled right through the end zone before finding Zach Ertz for 9 yards and a first down.

A 16-yard completion to Scary Terry moved the chains again.

A run by Brian Robinson followed by a 12-yard gain on a quick screen to Austin Ekeler brought the first quarter to an end with Washington at the TB 45-yard line, 1st & 10.