The Washington Commanders defeated the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Detroit Lions, 45-31, to advance to their first NFC Championship Game since 1992.
The Commanders improve to 4-0 all-time in the playoffs against the Lions. Ironically, Washington defeated Detroit, 41-10, in their last appearance in the NFC Championship Game en route to a Super Bowl XXVI win over the Buffalo Bills.
Washington’s success this season has been on the shoulders of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. In his second career NFL playoff game, Daniels put on another show, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 51 yards.
For the second straight week, wide receiver Dyami Brown stepped up his play, leading the team with 99 receiving yards. Yet, star wide receiver Terry McLaurin and veteran tight end Zach Ertz caught a touchdown pass.
The game was a back-and-forth offensive shootout until the Commanders’ defense broke out by forcing four interceptions and a fumble on a strip sack. The five turnovers changed the complexion of the game in favor of Washington.
The astounding team’s play led to a long-awaited conference championship birth, and here’s how they got to it.
Commanders turnover on downs leads to Lions score
The Commanders opened the game strong with a defensive three-and-out on the Lions. The offense followed up with a promising drive and got into the red zone, but the Lions’ defense forced them to a fourth-and-one.
Marcus Mariota checked into the game and tried a fake sneak but got stuffed shy of the first down before he could pitch the ball to an awaiting Jayden Daniels.
Replay showed that running back Brian Robinson may not have been on the same page about the play call as he got in Mariota’s way.
The turnover on downs gave the Lions momentum. Quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions answered the turnover with a six-play, 71-yard drive. Detroit’s running back Jahmyr Gibbs capped off the drive with a touchdown to give the Lions an early 7-0 lead.
Lions 7, Commanders 0
Dorace Armstrong strip-sacks Jared Goff
The Commanders responded as Daniels led the offense back into the red zone. However, a third-down pass to Dyami Brown broke up, forcing a 47-yard field goal from kicker Zane Gonzalez.
Commanders 3, Lions 7
The game’s first break for the Commanders happened in the second quarter when defensive end Dorace Armstrong got a strip sack off Goff, leading to a Commanders’ recovery.
With the ball back in their hands, the Commanders wanted to put six more points on the board.
Daniels completed six of his eight passes for 34 yards,including a fourth down pass to Zach Ertz to put the Commanders inside the Lions five-yard line. Three plays later, McLaurin drew a defensive pass interference against Lions defensive back Kerby Joseph inside the end zone, placing the ball at the one-yard line.
Two plays later, Brian Robinson Jr. scored Washington’s first touchdown, giving the Commanders the lead.
Commanders 10, Lions 7
Commanders respond to Sam LaPorta’s one-hand TD catch with back-to-back touchdowns
The Lions offense wasted no time getting the lead back. Goff completed six straight passes for a staggering 70 yards.
With the ball at the Commanders’ two-yard line, Goff escaped the pocket before finding his tight end Sam LaPorta, who snagged a one-hand catch in the end zone to regain the lead for the Lions.
The Commanders needed just three plays to answer LaPorta. Daniels swung a screen pass to McLaurin to beat a corner blitz from Lions defensive back Brian Branch. McLaurin outraced a pair of Lions defenders 58 yards to the end zone.
The Commanders’ defense finally had enough of the Lions’ offense having its way. Goff sailed a pass intended for Tim Patrick into the waiting hands of Commanders safety Quan Martin, who knifed through the Lions’ offense for a 40-yard pick-six, extending Washington’s lead.
Commanders 24, Lions 14
Not only did Goff throw the pick-six, but he was injured in the play when Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu blocked him. Goff was attended to and helped to the blue medical tent. Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who spent much of the season as a high school football head coach, stepped in for Goff.
Lions score on trick play, but Commanders answer just before halftime
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson reached deep into his bag of plays and pulled out a trick play on the Commanders with Bridgewater in at quarterback.
On the drive’s third play, the Lions ran a reverse to wide receiver Jameson Willams. With a barricade of blocks ahead of him, Williams rolled ahead and cut back to open space for a phenomenal 61-yard touchdown run.
The Commanders’ defense may have fallen asleep with Bridgewater at quarterback, but destiny would not deny Washington’s offense.
The Commanders marched back to the end zone. Daniels dropped a beautiful pinpoint pass to Brown for 38 yards to the six-yard line. Three plays later, Daniels zipped the ball to Ertz in the end zone for another touchdown.
Commanders 31, Lions 21
Goff returns to throw his second interception
Jared Goff returned after sitting out the previous Lions’ possession. He appeared get right back on track, marching Detroit into Washington territory behind 41 yards through the air.
With the waning seconds of the first half ticking, Goff tried to connect with Williams on a post route into the end zone. However, Commanders rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil undercut Williams to intercept the pass.
Instead of getting points on the board, the Lions’ drive stalled with a third turnover. The Commanders took a ten-point lead into halftime.
Commanders answer Lions with 8-minute drive
The Commanders opened the second half with the ball but got forced off the field with a three-and-out. Tress Way made his first punt of the postseason after not punting during the Commanders’ wild-card round win over the Buccaneers.
Way’s punt put the Lions inside their own ten-yard line. Where they started their drive did not deter the Lions, as they marched 91 yards into the end zone with Goff and running back David Montgomery leading the way. Gibbs finished the drive with an eight-yard touchdown.
Some argue that the drive should have stalled when Commanders defensive end Dante Fowler stopped Montgomery at the Lions’ 25-yard line on a third-and-two run. However, officials flagged Fowler for a 15-yard face mask and automatic first down.
FOX replays showed Fowler grabbing Montgomery by his shoulder pad upon further review. Unfortunately, penalties are not reviewable by officials, so the call stood, and the Lions continued their scoring drive.
Lions 28, Commanders 31
The Commanders kept their foot on the pedal with a 15-play drive that covered 70 yards and lasted eight minutes and 28 seconds. Daniels drove Washington to Detroit’s five-yard line.
The Lions’ defense forced the Commanders into a fourth-and-two. Washington, as they’ve done time and time again, kept their offense on the field. Then, the Lions shot themselves in the foot, breaking the huddle with 12 men and drawing a penalty. The penalty yardage was enough to give the Commanders a first down.
With a new set of downs, Robinson barreled through the goal line for his second touchdown of the game.
Commanders 38, Lions 28
Lions trick play goes awry and leads to Sainristil’s second interception
Trailing by ten in the fourth quarter, the Lions started feeling the pressure of losing at home as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Ben Johnson dialed up another trick play involving Williams. However, the results were disastrous this time.
Lions ran a flea flicker to Williams, but the wide receiver threw the pass into double coverage. Sainristil jumped the throw, falling to the ground for his second interception and the Lions’ fourth turnover.
The Commanders responded to the interception. On the drive’s first play, running back Austin Ekeler exploded for a 35-yard run. Still, the Commanders faced another fourth down from the Lions’ 13-yard line. Yet, Daniels didn’t fret, connecting to McLaurin for a 12-yard gain down to the one.
Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols followed the big play by plowing through for a one-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 17.
Commanders 45, Lions 28
Fourth interception seals win for Commanders
The Detroit crowd was stunned, with their number one seed Lions on the brink of getting eliminated.
The Lions, trying to keep hopes alive, went 60 yards down the field and were placed at the Commanders’ 13-yard line. But the offense came up short of the first and settled with a Jake Bates field goal.
Desperately needing the ball back, the Lions attempted an onside kick and almost came up with the ball, but Ertz recovered the loose ball to give it to his offense.
With attention on putting 50 on the scoreboard, the Commanders’ offense marched right back on the field to end any hope of a comeback.
The 26-yard drive came to an end on fourth-and-one. The Commanders didn’t need to take a big chance, so they called on Gonzalez for a field goal. Unfortunately, the kicker missed the 44-yard attempt wide left, and the Lions still had hope with 2:31 remaining.
The Lions tried to keep their season alive as the Commanders fans at Detroit’s Ford Field chanted “MVP” to their Pro Bowl QB, Jayden Daniels.
All hope ended when Goff threw his third interception to Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn.
Daniels kneeled the football with the last 25 seconds running off the clock.
Final Score: Commanders 45, Lions 31
Defying all odds against them, the Commanders are one win away from the Super Bowl. Washington will play the winner of Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles next week in the NFC Championship Game.
Key Stats
Commanders
- Passing: Jayden Daniels – 25/34, 299yds, 2 TDs
- Rushing: Brian Robinson Jr. – 15 att, 77 yds
- Receiving: Dyami Brown – 6 rec, 99 yds
- Defensive: Mike Sainristil – 4 tck, 2 int, 2 PD
Lions
- Passing: Jared Goff – 23/40, 313 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
- Rushing: Jahmyr Gibbs– 14 att, 105 yds, TD
- Receiving: Amon-Ra St. Brown – 8 rec, 137 yds, TD
- Defensive: Alex Anzalone – 13 tck
