Commanders vs Lions Divisional Round Recap

Published January 19, 2025 4:19 pm

Updated January 20, 2025 3:45 pm

Author Paul Lebowitz

The Washington Commanders stunned the Detroit Lions 45-31
Jayden Daniels is showing that maybe he should have been picked first overall
The Lions prove the sad reality of shootouts

The Commanders went to Detroit as nearly 10-point underdogs. But, just as they have all season, they ignored the outside noise and went blow-for-blow with one of the most intimidating offenses in the NFL, played opportunistically and with poise, and walked away with a relatively easy win. Our Commanders vs Lions Divisional Round recap looks at how they did it and what it means for the future.

Solid Management and Functionality Turns the Tide for Washington

Somewhere, reviled former Commanders owner Dan Snyder is saying, “This would have happened if I had kept the team” when, in fact, this would not have happened had he kept the team.

Washington’s turnaround from 4-13 on and off the field laughingstock to the NFC Championship Game and a very real shot at going to Super Bowl LIX is a testament to the importance of management stability. Sure, it helps to have the second overall pick in the draft and use it on a charismatic and rising star like quarterback Jayden Daniels. It’s beneficial to have quality pieces in place like Terry McLaurin. A team generally derives positive results from acquiring high-quality veterans Zach Ertz, Bobby Wagner, and Austin Ekeler.

But it starts with organizational culture, accountability, and behavior. When Josh Harris bought the franchise, he hired Adam Peters as GM. Peters had worked for winning organizations in New England, Denver, and San Francisco and hired Dan Quinn as head coach.

They believed in themselves and were fully prepared for Detroit after a hard-fought win in Tampa Bay in the Wild Card round. Daniels was flawless completing 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards and 2 TDs. He also ran for 51 yards on 16 attempts. Brian Robinson Jr. ran for 77 yards on 15 carries and 2 TDs. McLaurin’s 58-yard TD catch and run gave Washington a second-quarter lead they would never relinquish.

Terry McLaurin has scored a TD on 16.3% of his catches this season.

That's about 1 out of 6. It's outrageous.pic.twitter.com/1BygZOEIHE
— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) January 19, 2025

Detroit’s Offense Could Not Cover for Its Battered Defense

All season, quarterback Jared Goff, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta, and the rest of the Lions high-powered offense outscored every opponent that dared challenge them except for Week 2 and Week 15 losses to Tampa Bay and Buffalo.

The Bills’ loss was a bad omen. It was unclear exactly how bad until they ran into the Commanders.

Buffalo took Detroit’s best shot and outslugged them 48-42. In that game, the Lions’ defense could not stop Josh Allen. It was a reasonable question to ask whether Daniels would have been able to replicate Allen’s performance. And he did. His QB Rate was slightly better (122.9 for Daniels to 122.4 for Allen).

Detroit’s injuries on defense caught up to them. Without Aidan Hutchinson, Carlton Davis III, Alim McNeil, Derrick Barnes, and Marcus Davenport, they were patching it together. Against Washington, they lost Amik Robertson in the first quarter. Ifeatu Melifonwu also got hurt.

No matter how intense head coach Dan Campbell is, how qualified his coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are, there’s little a team can do in these circumstances but hope to outgun their opponent. With shootouts, if you get in enough of them, eventually you’re going to lose. And Detroit did.

Goff plainly and simply got outplayed by Daniels. He completed 23 of 40 passes for 313 yards. He completed three more passes if you count the ones he threw to guys wearing the other uniform, one of which was a pick-6 by Washington defensive back Quan Martin.

Campell was emotional and brutally honest in the postgame.

There are few “wouldas and shouldas” for Detroit. If, however, they do end up falling short over the next three or four years in their Super Bowl objective, this game will not be the flashpoint. Their Championship Game loss to San Francisco in 2023-24 will be. Campbell’s gambling on fourth down backfired in that game. They should’ve won it.

Philly/LA Better Be Ready for a Fight

Washington now has a large swath of the country rooting for them. Everyone loves an underdog and comeback story and that’s the Commanders. Add in how likable they are and Philly/LA need to be prepared for a battle.

Super Bowl LIX could have a surprise participant who, before the season, was +12,000 to +15,000 to win it. As our Commanders vs Lions Divisional Round recap shows, they have an opening to do just that.