In one of the most stunning upsets in recent NFL playoff history, the Washington Commanders went into Ford Field and dominated the heavily favored Detroit Lions, emerging with a 45-31 victory to advance to their first NFC Championship Game since the 1991 season. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels once again looked unshakable under the bright lights, throwing for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns while the opportunistic Commanders defense forced a whopping 5 turnovers to silence the raucous Detroit crowd.
Commanders Offense Firing on All Cylinders
From the opening kick, it was clear Jayden Daniels and the Commanders offense came ready to play. The poised rookie signal-caller led Washington to scores on 7 of their 9 offensive possessions, consistently staying one step ahead of the Lions’ fierce pass rush. Daniels spread the wealth, connecting with 8 different receivers, but it was second-year wideout Dyami Brown who emerged as his go-to target in the biggest moments.
Brown hauled in 6 catches for 98 yards, repeatedly beating the Lions secondary deep to set up Washington scores. His 42-yard and 38-yard receptions on consecutive second quarter drives helped the Commanders build a lead they would never relinquish. In the postseason, Brown has been Daniels’ security blanket, with 11 receptions for 187 yards through two games.
“Dyami just continues to make plays for us,” Daniels raved about his young receiver. “I know if I put it in his vicinity, he’s coming down with it. That confidence we have in each other makes my job so much easier in those big moments.”
Balanced Rushing Attack Keeps Lions Guessing
While Daniels and the passing game deservedly grabbed the headlines, the Commanders’ diverse run game quietly kept the chains moving all night long. Washington deployed a three-headed monster of Jeremy McNichols, Johnny King, and Donovan Cooks to consistently gash the Lions front seven. The trio combined for 131 rushing yards on 27 carries, an impressive 4.9 yards per attempt.
That success on the ground prevented the Lions defense from pinning their ears back and attacking Daniels on obvious passing downs. It also helped seal the game late, with McNichols rumbling into the end zone from 8 yards out to give Washington an insurmountable 17-point fourth quarter lead.
Opportunistic Defense Capitalizes on Lions Miscues
While they bent to the tune of 31 points and over 500 yards allowed, Jack Del Rio’s defense made game-changing plays when they needed them most. The Commanders picked off Lions Pro Bowl quarterback Jared Goff three times, with safety Quan Martin providing the exclamation point via a 38-yard first half pick-six.
Cornerback Mike Sainristil came up with the other two interceptions, including a pivotal end zone pick late in the first half with Detroit threatening to cut into Washington’s lead. The rookie from Michigan has been one of the steals of the 2024 draft, transforming a Commanders secondary that struggled mightily a season ago.
“We knew they were going to make some plays, but we stayed confident and kept battling,” Sainristil said. “When our offense is rolling like that, we just need to get a few stops and we know we’ve got a great chance.”
Commanders Exorcise Franchise Demons
Washington’s triumph in Detroit represents a stunning turnaround for a franchise that hasn’t tasted much postseason success in recent decades. The Commanders had managed just two playoff victories in the 30 years since their last Super Bowl triumph in the 1991 season. Now, after dismantling a Lions squad that went 15-2 in the regular season, they sit just one win away from an improbable trip to Super Bowl LXII.
- Prior to 2024, Washington’s last playoff win came in the 2005 wild card round
- Commanders went 4-13 in 2023 before overhauling coaching staff and front office
- Franchise had 4th worst winning percentage in NFL from 1992-2023
If the Commanders can take down either the Eagles or defending champion Rams next week, they will become the first team in the Super Bowl era to make the big game after winning four or fewer games the previous season. For a franchise and fan base that has endured so much losing and dysfunction for so long, this magical run feels like a cathartic release.
Resilient Lions Look to Bright Future
For the Lions and their fans, Saturday’s loss will sting for a long time. After assembling perhaps the most talented roster in franchise history and dominating the regular season, many in Detroit believed this was finally the year the Lions would break through for their first ever Super Bowl appearance. Alas, they picked the worst possible time for their sloppiest performance of the season.
“This one hurts, no question about it,” a dejected coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “I’m proud of what our guys accomplished this year, but we just didn’t have it tonight. Too many mistakes against a team that wasn’t going to beat themselves.”
Still, there are plenty of reasons for optimism in the Motor City moving forward. The Lions’ electric offense, led by stars like Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs, will have them in championship contention for years to come. If the defense can take a step forward in 2025, Detroit may finally end their 65+ year championship drought.
Meanwhile, the Commanders’ Cinderella story continues for at least one more week. Win next Sunday, and Washington will become the most unlikely Super Bowl participant the league has seen in decades. And with an unflappable young quarterback and a roster peaking at the perfect time, betting against them now seems rather unwise.
