Washington Football Team falls to Buccaneers, 31-23

LANDOVER, Md. - The Washington Football Team managed pull within two of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on multiple occassions, but could never pull ahead in their 31-23 loss to the Bucs.

Alex Smith was inactive during Saturday night's game due to a calf injury, so former Old Dominion standout Taylor Heinicke started at quarterback for Washington. In what was just was Heinicke's second career NFL start, he had both a rushing and passing touchdown.

The Buccaneers were first on the board with a field goal on their opening drive to pull ahead 3-0.

After Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady's touchdown pass to Antonio Brown in the first quarter, Washington answered back with a touchdown of its own. J.D. McKissic's two-yard touchdown run, followed by a made field goal, made it a 9-7 game.

The Bucs went on to carry a 18-7 lead into half after scoring another touchdown and field goal.

Heinicke had plenty of shining moments throughout the game, but especially on his third quarter touchdown run that pulled his team within two points of Tampa Bay.

Heinicke scored again in the fourth quarter, this time through the air. An 11-yard pass to Steven Sims made it a 28-23 game, but Washington was unable to put together anything else on offense after that and the Buccaneers won 31-23.

The Bucs move on to the next round of the playoffs, while Washington's season comes to an end.