Four takeaways from Washington’s playoff loss to Buccaneers

Taylor Heinicke gave Washington a chance, throwing for 306 yards and a touchdown, but the Buccaneers survived for their first playoff win since the Super Bowl after the 2002 season.

On fourth-and-21 from the Washington’s desperation heave down the right sideline fell incomplete. With Washington out of timeouts, Tampa Bay will escape with a win. (Tampa Bay 28, Washington 23, 1:51 left in the fourth quarter)

Ryan Succop’s fourth field goal of the game, a 37-yarder, extended Tampa Bay’s lead to eight. Washington is out of timeouts. (Tampa Bay 31, Washington 23, 2:49 left in the fourth quarter)

Washington and Taylor Heinicke won’t go away. After being checked out in the locker room for a shoulder injury, Heinicke returned to the game and capped an 11-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steven Sims Jr. on third down. (Tampa Bay 28, Washington 23, 4:51 left in the fourth quarter)

Leonard Fournette capped a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a short touchdown run to give the Buccaneers a two-score lead. Taylor Heinicke is returning to the game at quarterback for Washington. (Tampa Bay 28, Washington 16, 9:11 left in the fourth quarter)

Washington’s latest drive ended with a three-and-out and Taylor Heinicke, who took a big hit on the series, headed to the locker room for further evaluation. Heinicke is back on the Washington sideline and is questionable to return with a shoulder injury. His backup is undrafted rookie Steven Montez, who has never thrown an NFL pass. (Tampa Bay 21, Washington 16, 9:17 left in the fourth quarter)

Tampa Bay got three points back with a nine-play drive that culminated in a 38-yard field goal by Ryan Succop. Daron Payne sacked Tom Brady on second-and-two from the Washington 15 before Brady threw incomplete for Antonio Brown in the flat. (Tampa Bay 21, Washington 16, 13:32 left in the fourth quarter)

Taylor Heinicke made sure Washington would capitalize on Tampa Bay’s first turnover. On third-and-five from the Tampa Bay 8-yard line, Heinicke dropped back to pass, ducked to avoid a would-be sack and took off to his left. Around the 4-yard line, he leaped toward the pylon and touched it with the nose of the ball before his knee hit the round, resulting in a touchdown.

Logan Thomas was stopped short on the ensuing two-point conversion. (Tampa Bay 18, Washington 16, 2:14 left in the third quarter)

With Tampa Bay driving again, Washington forced its first turnover when Daron Payne punched the ball loose from rookie running back Ke’Shawn Vaugn. Jon Bostic recovered at the Washington 39-yard line.

Vaughn, who only had 26 carries during the regular season, has spelled Leonard Fournette tonight with regular starter Ronald Jones sidelined with an injury. (Tampa Bay 18, Washington 10, 5:53 left in the third quarter)

After Washington forced a three-and-out by the Buccaneers for the first time tonight, Tampa Bay’s defense returned the favor. A holding call on Brandon Scherff negated a third-down scramble for a first down by Taylor Heinicke before Logan Thomas was stopped well short of the line to gain on third-and-long. (Tampa Bay 18, Washington 10, 8:53 left in the third quarter)

Washington was lucky to get points on its opening drive of the third quarter, but Dustin Hopkins drilled a 36-yard field goal after safety Jordan Whitehead had an interception on a high throw from Taylor Heinicke slip through his hands. Heinicke made a couple of nice throws on the march before his errant toss on third down, including a 29-yard completion to tight end Logan Thomas. It’s back to a one-possession game. (Tampa Bay 18, Washington 10, 11:46 left in the third quarter)

Tom Brady was 12 for 23 for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, helping Tampa Bay take a nine-point lead into the break. Montez Sweat sacked Tom Brady for the first time tonight on the Bucs’ final drive of the second quarter.

Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke has played well in just his second career start. He’s 10 for 18 for 130 yards and an interception that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Washington caught a break late in the first half when Heinicke was sacked and fumbled the ball, but Washington retained possession after officials determined that there was no clear recovery.

With six minutes remaining in the second quarter, Washington punted the ball back to Tampa Bay after cornerback Carlton Davis got away with what should have been a pass interference call on a third-down play from the Buccaneers’ 41-yard line.

Washington’s defense could have used a stop ahead of halftime, but instead allowed Tampa Bay to march right down the field. In a minor victory for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s unit, Washington forced the Bucs to settle for a short field goal by Ryan Succop after Rob Gronkowski couldn’t get his feet down on a catch in the back of the end zone. (Tampa Bay 18, Washington 7, 1:50 left in the second quarter)

Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are having their way with Washington’s defense in the first half. Chris Godwin capped a five-play drive with a 27-yard touchdown catch. Tampa Bay’s ensuing two-point conversion failed.

Antonio Brown sparked the drive, which started at the Bucs’ 39-yard line after a squib kick by Washington, with a 22-yard gain on a reverse. Brady is 8 for 14 for 131 yards and two touchdowns. (Tampa Bay 15, Washington 7, 10:03 left in the second quarter)