Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez’s miss sends Washington to divisional round
It came down to a decisive moment for the divisional round.
The resounding hit against the bright yellow goal post filled the Tampa air, marking the end of the Buccaneers’ season and allowing the Commanders to continue their surprising journey, moving on to face the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.
Zane Gonzalez was the key player for Washington during the wild card weekend, successfully making a crucial 37-yard field goal that clinched the victory.
True to the Commanders’ style, the victory was filled with suspense. The team, who are experts in fourth-quarter comebacks, crafted another thrilling chapter that concluded with a win.
Washington has seen a shuffle of kickers this season, with Austin Seibert, Greg Joseph, and Cade York all facing injuries or struggling to secure the position.
This situation created an opportunity for Gonzalez, who seemed to feel the weight of the moment. He was seen adjusting his socks and shoes anxiously on the sidelines before the kick. Nevertheless, he secured the team’s first playoff victory in 19 years.
Since then, the Commanders have carried various identities. They’ve dealt with a contentious name, poor records, and a problematic owner, consistently finding themselves at the bottom. However, this season, they have transformed their image, shedding past criticism week after week.
Now, they have officially become contenders.
Radio broadcast of Zane Gonzalez’s kick
Here’s how the moment was captured on the Commanders’ radio broadcast featuring Bram Weinstein and London Fletcher.
Zane Gonzalez performance stats
Gonzalez, now in his sixth NFL season, is with his fourth team. He hadn’t played in a game since 2021 before joining the Commanders this season. In the regular season, he went a perfect 17-for-17 on extra points and 5-for-7 on field goal attempts over six games.
However, once the playoffs commenced, he was flawless, hitting all three attempts, with a long of 52 yards, and successfully converting both extra-point attempts, helping to propel the Commanders into the divisional round.
Contract details for Zane Gonzalez
Gonzalez signed a one-year contract worth $1,125,000 with Washington earlier this season, per Spotrac. He is set to become a free agent once the Commanders’ season concludes. Given his standout performance, he might not be searching for a job for long, if he gets to that point at all.
