Why take a step forward when you can slide backward? The post NFL Announces Back-to-back Punishment for Baker Mayfield's Guard After Bucs Lost to Commanders in Wildcard Weekend appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Baker Mayfield placed the blame on himself for the wild card loss after he lost a costly fumble in the fourth quarter.

Miscues in the fourth quarter proved to be the downfall for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Washington Commanders secured a narrow 23-20 victory

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield left the field at Raymond James Stadium dejected after Tampa fell to the Commanders 23-20 to end their playoff run as quickly as it started.

Baker Mayfield sat on the bench wearing a baseball cap with his head down, unable to do anything to keep the Washington Commanders from ending Tampa Bay’s season. The quarterback’s fourth-quarter fumble led to a touchdown that gave the Commanders a short-lived lead.

Mayfield’s frustration was evident after the fumble, punching the ground as Washington recovered. Despite the setback, the Buccaneers rallied to tie the game at 20-20 on a field goal, but another miscommunication — this time an early snap by rookie center Graham Barton — cost Tampa Bay a chance to maintain momentum.

Zane Gonzalez spent three years out of football. On Sunday, he sank a buzzer-beating field goal to push the Commanders to the NFC divisional round.

Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield took the blame for a costly fourth-quarter fumble Sunday night against Washington and said that while it will "wear on me for a while," he's proud of the way his team competed this season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Washington Commanders, 23-20, as Zane Gonzalez kicked a 37-yarder as time expired. Baker Mayfield completed 15 of 18 attempts for 185 yards and two touchdowns for a 146.5 rating. Mike Evans led the Bucs in receiving with 92 yards on seven receptions and a touchdown.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Commanders on a 10-play, 51-yard drive that set up the go-ahead kick.

It was a game that was defined by two Buccaneers errors: A Baker Mayfield fumble attempting a handoff to Jalen McMillan and a botched snap that cost the offense precious yards. Todd Bowles' team was made to pay both times. "Dumb mistakes,'' conceded QB Mayfield.

Jayden Daniels and the Commanders delivered Washington's first playoff win in nearly 19 years. The celebration was short-lived as they turn their attention to the next challenge of playing at the NFC-leading Detroit Lions in the divisional round on Saturday night.