The Commanders’ Terry McLaurin (17) and Jayden Daniels (5) celebrate a touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday against the Lions. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Washington Commanders finished tied for the second-worst record in the NFL last season. They had been a laughingstock for more than 20 years. Getting the No. 2 pick of the NFL Draft, which became Jayden Daniels, provided hope.
It was hope that things could be better in a few years. Not hope that as a rookie Daniels would lead the Commanders to their first NFC championship game in 33 years.
The Commanders pulled off one of the biggest upsets in divisional-round history, beating the Detroit Lions 45-31 to advance to the NFC championship game while delivering Detroit one of the most crushing losses in recent memory.
Detroit, who went 15-2 in the regular season and needed to win just two home games to make the first Super Bowl in franchise history, is out. The Commanders are moving onto the NFC title game for the first time since the end of the 1991 season. They’ll face either the Philadelphia Eagles or Los Angeles Rams on the road.
Washington hadn’t even won a playoff game since the end of the 2005 postseason, now the Commanders have won two this postseason.
It’s an outcome that feels like a huge turning point for both franchises. For the Lions it’s an unimaginable disappointment. Until the Lions make a Super Bowl, they will lament blowing a home game to a Commanders team that went 4-13 last season and had a rookie quarterback starting just his second postseason game. They turned it over five times, including one on a trick pass by receiver Jameson Williams in the fourth quarter. The defense, ravaged by injuries, wasn’t even competitive. It’s among the most stunning one-and-done flops in playoff history. The 2024 Lions and 2011 Packers are the only teams in NFL history to win 15 games in the regular season and not win a playoff game. A magical season was completely undone in a little more than three hours Saturday night.
For Washington, it’s another step in an unbelievable season with dramatic wins and a historic season from an electrifying rookie QB. And to think, we’re supposed to be a few years away from seeing the peak of what Daniels can do with the Commanders.
It took a little more than one minute of game action for the Commanders to put a lot of fear into the Lions.
Detroit took a 14-10 lead on a great one-handed catch by Sam LaPorta in the end zone, and while Washington was certainly looking good, the Lions still seemed in control. That changed fast. Terry McLaurin took a receiver screen pass off a run-pass option play and went 59 yards for a touchdown. Right after that disaster struck for the Lions. Jared Goff overthrew a pass that was intercepted by safety Quan Martin and returned 40 yards for a score. On top of the interception, Goff took a massive hit from Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu, which could have been called for a penalty but was not. The Commanders suddenly led 24-14.
That set off one of the wildest quarters in NFL playoff history. Jameson Williams scored on a 61-yard run off a reverse for the Lions. Daniels answered, hitting a long 38-yard pass to Dyami Brown to set up a 5-yard touchdown to Zach Ertz. The Lions were about to answer but Goff threw an interception on a pass into the end zone right before the half ended.
Even with that interception it was the highest scoring quarter in postseason history according to Fox, with the two teams combining for 42 points.
A few things were apparent by halftime. The Lions’ defense, which has dealt with a lot of injuries and lost cornerback Amik Robertson to an elbow injury in the first quarter, couldn’t get a stop. Also, Washington’s offense is amazingly efficient with a rookie quarterback. Daniels had 242 yards, two touchdowns and a 137.4 passer rating at halftime. He’d later become the first rookie QB in NFL history to have 300 total yards in two postseason games.
The biggest takeaway from the first half was that the Lions were in a lot of trouble.
Commanders pull away in 2nd half
The scoring slowed down a bit in the second half, but the Commanders still maintained control of the game.
The Lions scored to cut Washington’s lead to 31-28. The Commanders answered back with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The drive was kept alive by a Lions penalty on fourth-and-2 for having 12 men on the field.
The Lions run more trick plays than anyone. They tried one in the fourth quarter that backfired massively. Williams took a play that looked like another reverse for the speedy receiver, but he was passing it. Nobody was open yet Williams threw it anyway and it was picked off. Trailing 38-28 at that point, it was a death blow to the Lions. The Commanders scored with 7:31 left to take a 17-point lead and crush the Lions’ dreams.
The game felt over before that because the Lions couldn’t get a stop and Daniels kept making plays. Daniels came through with many big plays, with Washington punting only once while having six scoring drives. Detroit’s frustrating night was summed up when it had a great onside kick after cutting Washington’s lead to 45-31, but couldn’t recover it. Ertz somehow recovered before Detroit could get the loose ball.
Washington will travel again to play the winner of Sunday’s Los Angeles Rams-Philadelphia Eagles game. Just making the NFC championship game is beyond any of the wildest hopes the Commanders could have had coming into the season. And we know after Saturday that next week won’t be too big of a moment for them or their rookie quarterback.
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The good news for Lions fans is your team can get healthy again and try again next year, with most of their core intact. The bad news is offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will probably be coaching other teams.
Jayden Daniels: 22-of-31 for 299 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, no sacks, 122.9 passer rating, 51 rushing yards on 16 carries. An incredible night for the No. 2 pick of last year’s draft.
Brian Robinson Jr.: 77 yards and two touchdowns on 15 rushes
Dyami Brown: six catches, 98 receiving yards on eight targets
Jared Goff: 23-of-40 for 313 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, 59.7 passer rating, one fumble lost. Woof.
Jahmyr Gibbs: 105 yards and two touchdowns on 14 rushes, plus 70 receiving yards on six catches and 11 targets
Amon-Ra St. Brown: eight catches and 137 receiving yards on 10 targets
FINAL: Commanders 45, Lions 31
A dream season ends for the Lions. A dream season continues for the Commanders. Washington will be on the road next week, playing with house money, after blowing out a shorthanded Lions defense.
There were 1,003 total yards gained in that game.
Jared Goff is picked off by Jeremy Chinn just short of the end zone and that will officially do it. The Washington Commanders are going to the NFC championship game for the first time in 33 years, with a rookie quarterback and first-year head coach. They looked more composed throughout the game.
The Lions have reached the red zone again, with 39 seconds and zero timeouts left. They need to score quickly, recover an onside kick and make a Hail Mary.
Did Tom Brady just fire a 28-3 stray at the Falcons? “Not sure Dan Quinn likes having the owner come down to the field before the game is over.”
The Cowboys haven’t made the NFC championship game since 1995. Their former defensive coordinator is about to do it in his first year with their traditional rival. One of their former players has thoughts.
These are some grim crowd shots on the broadcast at Ford Field.
The Commanders’ win means the winner of tomorrow’s Rams-Eagles game will have home-field advantage in the NFC championship game. Given that Los Angeles lost last week’s game due to the wildfires, that would be quite a swing for the city.
Jared Goff gets sacked on first down. We’ve reached the two-minute warning.
Zane Gonzalez’s 44-yard field goal attempt goes wide left and the Lions have 2:26 to erase a 14-point deficit. This isn’t over, but…
The Packers got shut down by the Eagles. The Vikings got blown out by the Rams. The Lions can’t stop the Commanders.
The NFC North was the best division in the regular season, and its about to go 0-for-3, all in decisive fashion, in the playoffs.
Jayden Daniels keeps showing off, this time on a third-down pass to John Bates for a fresh round of clock burning. Three and a half minutes left in the Lions’ season.
Whew, Commanders avoid disaster as Zach Ertz makes a great play on an onside kick.
The Lions get to the red zone, then settle for a 28-yard field goal. They’re still down 14 with 5:01 left
This will be dissected beyond tonight.
Jared Goff from clean pockets tonight: 10-of-11, 137 yards
Jared Goff under pressure: 3-of-10, 43 yards, TD, 2 INT@NextGenStats
The Commanders have 448 total yards. Detroit’s defensive injuries have been flagged as a potential issue for weeks, if not months, and it’s all now coming to a head., What a brutal way for a dream season to end.
TOUCHDOWN: Jeremy McNichols reaches for a dagger
Jeremy McNichols would not be denied. He reaches the ball out at just the right time to put the Commanders up 45-28 with 7:31 left. Their odds aren’t 0%, but that’s probably the season for Detroit.
The Commanders go for it on 4th-and-2, again, and get it, again. This time on a quick Jayden Daniels pass under pressure to Terry McLaurin. Commanders on the doorstep of an insurmountable lead here.
Jayden freaking Daniels. The rookie scrambles, breaks a tackle, evades another tackle and picks up a first down. Less than 10 minutes left and the Commanders are at the Lions’ 21-yard line
On the first play of a gifted drive, Austin Ekeler runs an inside zone and gains 35 yards to put the Commanders in FG range. This is devolving quickly for the Lions.
CB Mike Sainristil has recorded his second interception of the game. He is the first player to record at least two interceptions in a playoff game since Barry Wilburn did so in Super Bowl XXII vs. DEN.
It’s never great when your playoff hopes potential die because you gave the ball to your No. 2 receiver to throw it. The Lions got tricky again, gave it to Jameson Williams to throw it downfield, and it’s picked off. And the Lions are called for ineligible man downfield for good measure.
Panic time for Detroit.
Lions WR Tim Patrick lays down a big stiff arm for a 22-yard gain and the Lions are at midfield.
Two weeks in a row, the team starting the rookie QB on the road is cooler and more collected than their opponent in the key spots. So impressive.
With 13:29 left in the fourth quarter, we are rapidly approaching the stage of the game where the Lions have to do everything right to survive this.
TOUCHDOWN: Commanders extend their lead again
It took 15 plays, a couple bold fourth-down decisions and a horrific mistakes by the Lions, but the Commanders respond to the Lions TD with their own trip to the end zone, courtesy of Brian Robinson up the middle.
Oh geez, the Lions get called for 12 men on the field and it’s a first down for the Commanders. And it’s not like they got a man off the field late. 12 players were lined up on defense. That’s a huge mistake for Dan Campbell and co.
Another big third-down stop for the Lions, who drop Zach Ertz just short of the first down. Looks like the Commanders are going for it on 4th-and-2 again.
On the biggest play of the night so far, Jayden Daniels keeps it and runs outside for an easy first-down. This is some impressive stuff from the rookie.
That’s a huge tackle by Lions DB Brian Branch. Jayden Daniels got it to Dyami Brown just short of the sticks on 3rd-and-5, but Branch brought him down immediately to force a fourth down. Branch was hurt on the play, though, and now the Commanders are going for it on 4th-and-2.
Midway through the third quarter, Jayden Daniels is 8/11 for 166 yards and a touchdown against the Lions’ blitz.
Jayden Daniels gashed the Lions on a 14-yard scramble, then draw a personal foul after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Joshua Pascal after handing it off on an option. He’s still doing damage.
The Lions D is still dealing with injuries.
Branch and Melifonwu both being attended to after that play. Melifonwu has already come off the field and Branch being waved off for at least this snap.
— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) January 19, 2025
It’s pretty hard to overstate how big this drive is. Score and the Commanders stay ahead by multiple scores. Get stopped and the Lions have all the momentum.
TOUCHDOWN: Lions offense opens second half with 11-play, 91-yard drive
Here we go. The Lions methodically march down the field and cap the drive off with an eight-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs, who is now at 103 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. It’s a three-point game
The Lions get tricky on a lateral followed by a shovel pass, which breaks free Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 20-yard gain. Ben Johnson is showing why he’s this cycle’s top head-coaching candidate.
Calls aside, the Lions offense is moving.
People aren’t loving a questionable facemask penalty on the Commanders.
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.
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