The Washington Commanders' radio broadcast team reacted like children at Christmas celebrating the winning field goal to advance the franchise to the divisional round, but Dave Portnoy wasn't so keen on their call.
The Barstool founder couldn't believe the omitted detail of a kick from the right upright and over the crossbar in a 23-20 road win over the Buccaneers.
“Is this the worst big game call of all time?” Portnoy asked X. “They sounded like Zane (Gonzalez) crushed down the middle. I didn't even mention Doink. F-minus call.”
Commentator Bram Weinstein and former Washington star middle linebacker London Fletcher reacted like fans at that moment, caught up in the excitement of the upset victory.
As Portnoy pointed out, they didn't mention Gonzalez's near miss, which would have brought the kicker dangerously close to joining Cody Parkey in the playoff Hall of Fame and potentially sent the game into overtime.
“We're considering sending Washington to the divisional round. Snap downs, hold downs, kicks… good,” Weinstein yelled, and Fletcher started yelling as well.
“The commander of the heart is also the commander of the clutch. They'll do it again, see you in Detroit,” Weinstein continued, and they both jumped for joy.
Fletcher excitedly yelled into the microphone while shadow boxing, “And Zane Gonzalez kicked down the door and put us in the second round of the playoffs!”
Many of Washington's games were decided by close margins, but Sunday's game proved to be a matter of inches.
The Commanders have won five straight games decided by a touchdown or less, and are 9-3 in one-score games.
Many enjoyed the fan-like nature of Weinstein and Fletcher's call, even if it didn't inform listeners that the field goal hit the uprights at a dramatic moment.
Washington now heads to Detroit to take on the NFC's top-seeded Lions, who enter as 8.5-point favorites.
The coaches are in just the first year of a rebuild that many teams dream of, going from 4-13 to 12-5 and a playoff win behind projected Offensive Rookie of the Year Jaden Daniels.
