Spokesman-Review
National Football League
Washington 29, Tampa Bay 19
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 14, 2021
Where: FedExField, Landover, Maryland
Temperature: 47°
Head Official: Brad Rogers
Attendance: 52128

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

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Tampa Bay   Washington
Leonard Fournette Player Antonio Gibson
11 Attempts 24
47 Yards 64
4.3 Avg Yards 2.7
0 Touchdowns 2
8 Long 15
Receiving
Tampa Bay   Washington
Mike Evans Player Terry McLaurin
2 Receptions 6
62 Yards 59
31.0 Avg Yards 9.8
1 Touchdowns 0
40 Long 21
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Tampa Bay 273 53 220 2 2 0 5.0 1
Washington 320 94 226 3 3 2 0.0 0
Upcoming Games
  • Washington will play their next game on the road against Carolina. The Football Team have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .429 after a loss.
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against N.Y. Giants. The Buccaneers have a W/L % of .714 after a win and .500 after a loss.