The "Cardiac Commanders" once again spiked heart rates everywhere as they narrowly sailed past the Buccaneers, 23-20, in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, linebacker Bobby Wagner and kicker Zane Gonzalez all rose to the occasion to help give Washington its first playoff victory since 2006.

Jayden Daniels

It was another special outing for Daniels, who continues to cut the figure of a multi-year NFL veteran rather than a rookie every time he steps on the field. Though it was No. 5's first-ever NFL playoff game, Daniels was electrifying but calm, quick-thinking and poised throughout the affair at Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa Bay, who ranked sixth in the league in sacks coming into the game, delivered the pressure against the rookie, trying to speed up his process if not bring him down uncomfortably. Daniels was mostly unfazed by this approach, either using his legs to escape the onslaught himself or being one step ahead with his passes to receivers.

Daniels fired his shots to the Buccaneers defense in the first quarter, leading a 92-yard, 17-play drive that shaved 9:08 minutes off the clock and gave Washington its first lead. That drive ended with Daniels' first playoff touchdown, a 10-yard dime to Dyami Brown.

The second of the quarterback's touchdowns on the night would come in the fourth quarter when -- stop us if you've heard this one before -- the game was on the line late, and Daniels' stepped up to get his team the win. On fourth-and-2 with just under 10 minutes left to play, the quarterback hit McLaurin for a five-yard touchdown to take the lead.

After that, the fourth-quarter action was far from over for the Commanders' offense. With under five minutes left to play and the game knotted at 20, Daniels orchestrated another game-winning drive with highlights, including a 21-yard pass to Dyami Brown and a game-sealing scramble for a first down on third-and-1. The 10-play, 51-yard march down the field set Zane Gonzalez up for the three points that would clinch the victory.

In the win, the first NFL playoff win by a rookie QB since 2012, Daniels completed 24-of-35 passes for 268 yards, two passing touchdowns, and a 68.6 completion percentage. He also had 36 rushing yards on 13 carries -- the most yards rushed by a quarterback in a postseason game in Washington's history. Now that's quite the postseason debut.

Terry McLaurin

Unlike his quarterback, McLaurin has had a taste of the playoffs before, but last night packed a different punch than the team's 2020 postseason face-off with the Bucs.

McLaurin, who is having the best season of his career and can now call himself an All-Pro for the first time, relished the moment and made plays all over the field in the primetime Wild Card showdown. The "Scary Terry" antics started early for Washington. Not even five minutes into the game, the wideout showcased just why he is one of the most dangerous at his position in the league, winning his route against Jamel Dean at the line of scrimmage to haul in a 35-yard deep ball on third-and-6 with the cornerback hanging all over him.

On the biggest stage with the biggest stakes, it makes sense that Daniels would look to the supremely skilled, reliable and clutch McLaurin for a team-high 10 targets. McLaurin continuously used his talents to finagle past coverage for the space needed to offer an option for Daniels. One of those times came on a downfield shot with two minutes left in the first quarter.

McLaurin would eventually cash in on a trip to the end zone, this time from a much shorter distance. For the second week in a row, the receiver came up big with a fourth-quarter touchdown, a five-yard catch on fourth-and-2 to leapfrog the Bucs. The touchdown was McLaurin's first in a playoff game and extends his total on the season -- the most for a wide receiver in a single season in franchise history -- to 14.

Bobby Wagner

Wagner brought veteran leadership and skillset that made a difference down in Tampa.

Though it may not have been one of the most explosive or singularly noteworthy moments, the linebacker dished out a hit within the first minute of the game that set the tone for Washington's defense. Baker Mayfield had passed it off to Bucky Irving, and Wagner, like a heat-seeking missile, pounced on the running back and bulldozed him backward for no gain. He followed it up with another crushing hit on Irving, who could do nothing to contain the linebacker's sheer power.

In the visitors' locker room at Raymond James Stadium, every Commanders player made a commitment by signing a poster that said, "We will outhit every team we play." Those two very early plays put the exact kind of action Dan Quinn & Co. undoubtedly wanted to see behind those words.

In addition to a team-high eight tackles on the night, Wagner also recorded a half-sack in the win, combining with Dorance Armstrong to bring down Baker Mayfield in the third. The 34-year-old's most crucial play of the game, however, came in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers were on their 15-yard-line and a muffed handoff saw the ball loose on the ground. Wagner jumped on it to reclaim possession for Washington with excellent field position.

They don't come around often, but occasionally, even the seasoned, future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner notches a "first" of his career. This was one of them. Wagner had never had a fumble recovery in the 17 postseason games he had played. What a time for it to come. The linebacker's stats against Tampa made him the first Washington player with at least 0.5 sacks and one fumble recovery since at least 2000.

Zane Gonzalez

Washington's had four kickers during the regular season, and Zane Gonzalez has been the guy for the Commanders ever since Austin Seibert went on IR at the end of November. He has fared well since then, making 100% of extra point attempts and 71% of field goal attempts.

In the tooth-and-nail type of fights that playoffs can be, Gonzalez's job has a ramped-up intensity and microscope to it. Last night against Tampa, the kicker executed when pressure was at its highest. In the second quarter, he scored a 52-yard field goal, the longest field goal he had made since Week 8 of 2021, to give Washington a seven-point lead. His second field goal attempt -- a 22-yarder in the third quarter -- was also on the money.

Then, of course, there was the doink heard 'round the DMV in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 20. The Commanders' offense had wound the clock down to three seconds, and the ball was on Tampa's 19-yard line. All that remained between the Commanders and their first playoff win in a generation was Gonzalez putting this kick through the uprights. And that's what he did. After ricocheting off the right upright, the ball went through. This 37-yard field goal, which made him the first kicker with at least field goals in a team playoff game since Chip Lohmiller in Super Bowl XXVI, ended the Buccaneers' season and sent Washington to the Divisional round.