The Detroit Lions were breathing a sigh of relief after winning in Week 18 to get the first-round bye, and after the Los Angeles Rams’ emphatic win over the Vikings, head coach Dan Campbell and crew are not just happy for the extra rest.
For Detroit, David Montgomery is back in the lineup after missing the final three games of the regular season with a knee injury — he returned to practice Tuesday. Montgomery rushed for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns in his 14 games this season and would reunited the “Sonic and Knuckles” tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs in the Detroit backfield. That duo powered the Lions to finish sixth in the NFL in rushing this season and second in the league in rushing touchdowns.
With a win, Washington would make it to the NFC championship game for the first time since their Super Bowl win at the end of the 1991 season.
How to watch Commanders vs. Lions: NFC divisional playoff
Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Ford Field | Detroit TV Channel: Fox Streaming: Fox Sports App, Fubo
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The Lions defense opens the second half with a massive stop. They’ll take over at their own 9-yard line after a great punt from Tress Way.
Sam Cosmi has been downgraded to OUT with a knee injury.
The Lions kick off and the second half is underway
Right now, the difference is the Commanders winning the turnover battle 3-0.
HALFTIME: Commanders 31, Lions 21
The two teams have combined for 621 total yards. The Commanders are averaging 8.0 yards per play. The Lions are averaging 9.4. The pregame over/under was 50.5 and already in the rear-view mirror. The live total is currently 82.5.
We are on track for a historic shootout, as well as a huge upset unless the Lions figure out an answer for Jayden Daniels.
The Lions had a chance to cut this to a one-score deficit at halftime, but Jared Goff goes off-target in a deep pass to Jameson Williams and rookie Mike Sainristil cuts it off for a huge interception in the end zone. The Commanders kneel it out to end a wild, historic first half.
WR Olamide Zaccheaus (groin) is questionable to return
Jayden Daniels is 14-of-21 for 242 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, no sacks and a 137.4 passer rating, plus 30 rushing yards. On the road. In the playoffs. Against the No. 1 seed. As a rookie.
We might be watching one of the best playoff performances ever.
On 3rd-and-goal, against the top third-down defense in the NFL, Jayden Daniels finds Zach Ertz to put the Commanders up 31-21 with 1:46 left in the first half.
THIS GAME. On 2nd-and-8, Jayden Daniels gets it to Dyami Brown for a 39-yard gain. Washington is in the red zone at the two-minute warning. Brown has 96 receiving yards.
TB12 capturing the moment, as always.
Fox’s Tom Brady on incredible 24-21 first half between Commanders and Lions:
“This is crazy. THIS IS CRAZY. This is video game stuff right now,” says a giddy Brady.
The Lions are averaging 10.3 yards per play. They are losing.
TOUCHDOWN: Lions respond with a trick play to Jameson Williams
Starting QB or not, this game is still going. Jameson Williams gets the ball on a trick play and takes it to the house. We’ve still got four minutes left in this half.
Important to note: Teddy Bridgewater was coaching high school football a month or two ago. Now a No. 1 seed’s playoff hopes could be riding on him. Football.
Teddy Bridgewater enters the game at QB for the Lions. Jared Goff is being evaluated for a concussion after taking an impact to the helmet on the pick-six return. This became a brewing disaster for the Lions very quickly.
Detroit’s defense is not making things difficult for Washington. Detroit’s offense is turning the ball over. Not good.
Ford Field just got a little quiet. Jared Goff overthrows it into the hands of Quan Martin to give the Commanders a 24-14 lead. Goff got wrecked on the return too.
It’s in situations like this we should remember the Commanders needed the miracle of all miracles to beat the Bears in the regular season.
It seems apparent that Washington will play its sixth straight game that will be decided on the final play from scrimmage.
WR Terry McLaurin’s 58-yard touchdown reception is the longest postseason touchdown reception since WR Ricky Sanders’ 80-yard touchdown reception on January 31, 1988 (the 1987 season).
The Commanders are averaging 7.8 yards per play. The Lions are averaging 9.0. Ben Johnson and Kliff Kingsbury are doing their jobs tonight.
TOUCHDOWN: Terry McLaurin to the house
The Commanders respond quickly. A pair of blocks bust open a screen pass for Terry McLaurin, who runs it all the way in from 58 yards out. We’ve got a football game here.
That’s a fun pick-up by the Fox broadcast. Lions tackle Dan Skipper reported as eligible and ran a route. The Commanders opted to double-team him.
He didn’t just catch it one-handed, he tucked it in mid-air one-handed.
TOUCHDOWN: Sam LaPorta with a bonkers one-handed catch
What a play by Sam LaPorta, who gives the Lions the lead back with a wild one-handed catch. It took an impressive play from Jared Goff just to get it there too.
Lions have 1st-and-goal after a quick pass to Kalif Raymond picks up 15 yards.
Amon-Ra St. Brown fights through defensive holding for a 34-yard gain. They might be losing, but the Lions keep picking up big plays.
TE Zach Ertz is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return
On their ninth play in the red zone, the Commanders run Brian Robinson Jr. up the middle on an option and take the lead. Offensive guard Sam Cosmi is down with an injury.
The Lions get called for pass interference on a critical 3rd-and-goal. Kerby Joseph had a hand on Terry McLaurin when he fell down, and it means a fresh set of downs for D.C.
Lions fans do not approve.
The Commanders go for it on 4th-and-3 at the Lions’ 9-yard line and get it. Zach Ertz got stopped two yards short of a touchdown.
Commanders fan Kevin Durant didn’t appreciate Jahmyr Gibbs doing his dance.
The lights are definitely not too bright for Jayden Daniels. Given plenty of time to stand in the pocket, the rookie finds a wide-open Dyami Brown for a long gain.
Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is looking like a difference-maker early, with 34 yards on three carries.
The Washington defense can take a breather, but the Lions had gains of 33 yards, 23 yards, 19 yards, 15 yards and 14 yards in their last two drives. Goff isn’t going to fumble every time, so D.C. has some work to do.
FUMBLE: Commanders get huge break in the red zone
The Lions were once again rolling, but Dorance Armstrong knocks the ball out of Jared Goff’s hands and Frankie Luvu recovers it. An enormous play for Washington.
Jahmyr Gibbs continues to present a problem for Washington, this time with a 33-yard gain. The Lions have reached the red zone in three plays.
Two wins for the Lions defense, as far as I’m concerned. Jayden Daniels is not flinching. Commanders are moving the ball, but Washington only has three points to show for two drives that ended in Detroit territory. Offense can keep the pressure on Washington with another score.
Nearly a quarter in, this game has been about as expected. Lions look like the better team on both sides of the ball, but Jayden Daniels doesn’t look overwhelmed. The Commanders can’t afford to make mistakes like that too-cute fourth-down attempt and Brown’s drop.
Facing another 3rd-and-10, Jayden Daniels hit Dyami Brown on the hands, but the ball is dropped. Zane Gonzalez doesn’t need a doink to make it 7-3.
The Commanders are past midfield after Jayden Daniels picked up a big first down on 3rd-and-10. Just an easy throw to Jamison Crowder.
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