Expectations were low for the Washington Commanders this season because they had a rookie quarterback.
Washington would be planting the seeds to eventually get a fully bloomed quarterback, but as it turns out, Jayden Daniels didn’t need much seasoning.
Daniels and the visiting Commanders are headed to the NFC Championship Game after dispatching the top-seeded Detroit Lions 45-31 in the NFC divisional round on Saturday night.
Sixth-seeded Washington will visit either the Philadelphia Eagles or Los Angeles Rams, who play Sunday.
The team with the rookie quarterback didn’t commit a single turnover. Meanwhile, the big, bad Lions, who finished the regular season with a franchise-best 15-2 record and had last week off after earning a bye, committed five.
“I thought the story of the game was (protecting) the ball and turnover margin,” Washington first-year coach Dan Quinn said. “For us to have a real shot at this thing, we would have to knock out a few, so to finish (plus-five) in that was big for us.”
Daniels passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns while guiding Washington to its first conference title game appearance since its 1991 Super Bowl-winning season.
“We prepared the right way,” Daniels said. “We put in the work to get to this point now. We have another game left. We’ll see who we’re playing tomorrow. I just love this team.”
Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for two touchdowns, Mike Sainristil had two interceptions and Quan Martin returned an interception for a touchdown for the Commanders. Jeremy Chinn also had an interception for Washington.
Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz had touchdown receptions and Jeremy McNichols rushed for a score for Washington.
Jared Goff threw three interceptions and lost a fumble for Detroit. Receiver Jameson Williams was intercepted off a reverse pass.
It was a humbling performance for a team that had its sights on a deep postseason run.
“We had everything we wanted,” Goff said. “Home field advantage, the fans were incredible. We let it slip out of our hands.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell was highly emotional as he lamented the shaky performance.
“They earned that win and we didn’t,” Campbell said. “We just didn’t play good enough. We just didn’t play great, man. At the end of the day, I didn’t have them ready.”
Jahmyr Gibbs starred for Detroit with 175 scrimmage yards (105 rushing, 70 receiving) and scored two touchdowns. Sam LaPorta had a touchdown grab and Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight catches for 137 yards.
Goff completed 23 of 40 passes for one touchdown and he knew the contest would go down as an all-time loss in Lions lore.
“It’s tough to stand here now and process it all,” Goff said.
Daniels completed 22 of 31 passes to lead the Commanders to their second straight playoff victory. Washington beat the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend.
Washington led by three entering the fourth quarter before 1-yard runs by Robinson and McNichols extended the cushion to a 45-28 lead. Sainristil made his second interception between the scores, picking off Williams on a trick play.
The Lions moved within 14 on a 28-yard field goal by Jake Bates with 5:01 left, but there would be no late-game charge.
Daniels passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Commanders held a 31-21 lead.
Gibbs opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the opening quarter, before Washington’s Zane Gonzalez hit a 47-yard field goal with 3:50 remaining in the period.
A wide-open second quarter featured 42 points and three touchdowns of 40 or more yards.
Washington took a 10-7 lead on a 2-yard run by Robinson with 10:55 left in the half. Detroit moved back ahead just over three minutes later when LaPorta made a diving grab from Goff for a 2-yard touchdown.
Just 81 seconds later, the Commanders were back ahead as McLaurin caught a short pass, split two defenders and eluded another one downfield while running 58 yards down the sideline with 6:23 left. Washington’s lead grew to 24-14 just 58 seconds later when Martin intercepted an errant Goff pass and returned it 40 yards for a score.
“I seen the ball was overthrown so I’m just like ‘Catch the ball,’ ” Martin said. “I seen a couple dudes in front of me, made a move and got in the end zone. It felt great.”
Goff took a massive hit to the chin from Washington’s Frankie Luvu during the return, so Teddy Bridgewater handled the next series. On the third play, Williams broke loose on a double reverse and raced 61 yards for a touchdown to bring Detroit within three with 4:01 left.
The Commanders found the end zone again when Daniels threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Ertz with 1:46 left.
The third quarter was quiet in comparison with just one touchdown — Gibbs’ 8-yard run to pull the Lions within 31-28 with 6:57 remaining
–Field Level Media
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