Field Level Media
Nov 14, 2021
Taylor Heinicke passed for one score and Antonio Gibson ran for two touchdowns as the Washington Football Team upset the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-19 Sunday in a rematch of last season's NFC wild-card game.
After Tampa Bay (6-3) pulled to 23-19 with 10:55 remaining, Heinicke led Washington (3-6) on its longest drive of the season -- 80 yards in 19 plays over 10:26 -- before Gibson scored from 1 yard out.
Heinicke, who nearly led Washington to the upset before losing to Tampa Bay 31-23 in the wild-card matchup last season, completed the task on Sunday. He completed 26 of 32 passes for 256 yards, with no interceptions.
Buccaneers QB Tom Brady was 23-of-34 for 220 yards and two touchdowns, with two first-quarter interceptions.
Joey Slye kicked three field goals in his Washington debut.
Washington defensive end Chase Young left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury.
Tampa Bay was without tight end Rob Gronkowski (rib injury) and wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle).
Trailing by 10 points at halftime, the Buccaneers had a short field following a punt and went 43 yards on four consecutive Brady passes, the last one for 6 yards and a touchdown to Cameron Brate, cutting the Washington lead to 16-13 with 8:46 left in the third quarter.
Washington answered, driving 71 yards in eight plays, with Gibson bullying his way in from 1 yard out.
Dax Milne's fumble set the Buccaneers up at the Washington 47, and three plays later Brady found Mike Evans alone down the left sideline for a 40-yard touchdown. Ryan Succop missed the extra point, however, and Tampa Bay trailed 23-19 with 10:55 left before Gibson's 1-yard TD run with 29 seconds left sealed it.
Brady threw two interceptions in the first quarter for the first time since Week 16 in 2012.
Washington settled for a field goal and a 6-0 lead after the first pick, but cashed in the second time. Starting on the Tampa Bay 46, Washington drove to the 20 where, on third-and-6, Heinicke threw a perfect pass to DeAndre Carter in the end zone.
The Buccaneers sandwiched two field goals around another one by Slye and trailed 16-6 at halftime.
Washington scored on all four of its first-half possessions.
--Field Level Media