A franchise-record 15 overall season wins came down an 8-mile road for the Detroit Lions.
In a disastrous 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders on Saturday, the Lions saw their best overall season in franchise history go to waste.
Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for two touchdowns in a near-flawless performance as Washington reached the NFC championship game for the first time since winning the Tremendous Bowl 33 years ago.
“It’s a surreal moment,” Daniels said.
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Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders celebrates with Terry McLaurin #17 after defeating the Detroit Lions 45-31 in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ford Subject on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Photos)
The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were near double-digit underdogs against the Tremendous Bowl favorite Lions (15-3) and overcame doubts as they did all season with a rookie quarterback, a new coach and a basic manager.
“I always believed we could accomplish more than people think,” Daniels said.
Detroit, the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time, doomed its chances by losing it five times.
“If you turn the ball over five times against that team, it’s going to be tough to win,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.
Washington rookie Mike Sainristil had two interceptions, including one on a trick play with receiver Jameson Williams throwing into coverage after a fourth-quarter setback. And Quan Martin returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.
Jared Goff threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, turning the ball over three times in the unfortunate first half.
Daniels finished with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing and, just as important, he didn’t turn the ball over.
He became the second rookie quarterback to defeat a top-ranked team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore past Tennessee on January 10, 2009.
“Nothing surprises me with him,” said receiver Terry McLaurin, who turned a short pass from Daniels into a 58-yard touchdown.
First-year coach Dan Quinn led Washington to its first playoff victory in 19 years last week. The Commanders outlasted Tampa Bay for their sixth comeback victory and fifth in a row on the last play from scrimmage in regulation or extra time.
The Commanders, who converted 3 of 4 fourth downs, didn’t let Detroit stay that close.
“Give them credit,” Campbell said. “They won that game and we didn’t.”
Washington outscored Detroit 28-14 in the second quarter, the highest-scoring quarter in NFL playoff history, to take a 31-21 halftime lead.
Daniels had 242 passing yards in the first half, setting a rookie record a week after becoming the first rookie to lead his team in rushing and passing yards in a playoff victory.
The former LSU star, who was the No. 2 overall pick, was 22 for 31, including the long screen landing to McLaurin and a 5-yard scoring toss to Zach Ertz in the second quarter.
Brian Robinson rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
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Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders is tackled by Jack Campbell #46 of the Detroit Lions during the third quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ford Subject on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Photos)
Goff was 23 of 40 for 313 yards with a landing pass to Sam LaPorta that gave the Lions their final lead midway through the second quarter.
Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions for 137 yards.
Goff fumbled in a collapsing pocket on third-and-1 at the Commanders 17 late in the first quarter and Washington took advantage.
Daniels converted a fourth-and-3 from the Detroit 9-yard line to extend a drive capped by Robinson’s 2-yard touchdown run.
Three plays after Daniels’ landing throw to McLaurin, Goff missed his intended target and Martin intercepted it and took it to the end zone, putting the Commanders ahead 24-14. Goff was hit by linebacker Frankie Luvu on the interception return and was evaluated for a concussion.
With backup Teddy Bridgewater under center, Williams scored on a 61-yard reverse.
Detroit’s defense, however, couldn’t stop the Commanders all night. Washington set a season high for points.
The Lions had a chance to reduce the deficit in the final minute of the first half, but Goff’s pass over the middle was intercepted by Sainristil in the end zone.
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Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders runs the ball against Za’Darius Smith #99 of the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ford Subject on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Photos)
The Lions’ lost season will now find a place in the franchise’s history of disappointments.
The Lions organization is often considered one of the least successful in the NFL, being only one of four franchises to never reach the Tremendous Bowl.
The Lions are also one of two franchises to go 0-16, becoming the first team to do so in 2008. The Cleveland Browns became the only other team to do so, joining the club nine years later in 2017. The Buccaneers went 0-14 in their first NFL season in 1976, before the league expanded to 16 games.
Before last season, Detroit had gone 32 years without even winning a playoff game. They broke that streak last postseason with wins against the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the Lions’ run came to a halt after blowing a 24-7 third-quarter lead to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
The Lions never had that much of a lead against Washington on Saturday, but the surprising loss sent many Detroit fans home in a sour mood, anyway.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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