Washington Commanders 45-31 Detroit Lions: Quarterback Jayden Daniels sends top-seeded Detroit to the playoffs | NFL news
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels stunned the top-seeded Detroit Lions as the Commanders cruised to their first NFC title in 33 years at Ford Field in Michigan.
Daniels threw for two touchdowns and fellow rookie Mike Sainristil had two interceptions — stellar performances that sent the Lions into the playoffs early.
The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were nearly double-digit underdogs against the Super Bowl favorites (15-3), who doomed their chances of living up to expectations by turning the ball over five times.
Sainristil, who won a national title at Michigan last season, completed his second pass on a trick play with receiver Jameson Williams dropping into coverage in the fourth quarter.
Safety Quan Martin returned a punt 40 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give Washington a 24-14 lead.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw three sacks and lost a punt, turning it over three times in a hapless first half. He finished 23 of 40 for 313 yards with a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta that gave the Lions their last lead midway through the second quarter.
Daniels finished with 299 passing yards and 51 rushing yards to become the second rookie quarterback to sack a top-seeded team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore past Tennessee in 2009.
First-year coach Dan Quinn led Washington to its first playoff win in 19 years last week. The Commanders rallied past Tampa Bay for their sixth comeback win and fifth straight in the final game of a regular- or overtime showdown.
Washington outscored Detroit 28-14 in the second quarter — the highest-scoring quarter in NFL playoff history — to take a 31-21 lead into halftime.
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.
Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions for 137 yards.
Goff fumbled in the pocket collapsing on third-and-1 from the Commanders 17 late in the first quarter and Washington took advantage.
Daniels converted a fourth-and-three from the Detroit 9 to extend a drive capped by Robinson’s two-yard touchdown run.
Three plays after Daniels’ touchdown throw to McLaurin, Goff overthrew his target and Martin intercepted it and took it into the end zone, giving the Commanders a 24-14 lead. Goff took a hit from linebacker Frankie Luvu on an interception return and was evaluated for a concussion.
Detroit’s defense couldn’t stop the Commanders all night, and Washington scored a season high in points.
The Lions started the second half strong, forcing Washington to drive 76 yards on 11 plays, capped by Gibbs’ eight-yard run for his second touchdown to make it 31-28.
Washington had a 15-play, 70-yard touchdown drive — extending Detroit’s 12-man lead when faced with a fourth-and-run by Robinson’s second short touchdown that restored the Commanders’ 10-point lead.
What’s next?
Washington will play the winner of Sunday’s Los Angeles Rams-Philadelphia Eagles game next Sunday on the road for a Super Bowl spot, live on Sky Sports NFL.
