DETROIT — The Washington Commanders no longer are just a feel-good story. They’re now a threat to win a title in one of the most unlikely seasons in franchise history.
The Commanders earned a spot in the NFC Championship Game with a 45-31 victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday. Washington (14-5) will play the winner of Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams (3 p.m. ET, NBC).
It’s the first time the organization has reached the NFC Championship Game since the 1991 season. It had not won a playoff game since the 2005 season until last week.
The Commanders did it with an offense that punted only one time and gained 482 total yards against a team that had gone 15-2 in the regular season.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels, once more, starred. He threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 52 yards. They scored 38 points and received another seven thanks to a pick-six by safety Quan Martin.
And they accomplished this one year after going 4-13 and overturning its front office, coaching staff and roster. From 1992 — the year after Washington won its last Super Bowl — until 2023, the organization posted the NFL’s fourth-worst winning percentage.
The franchise had not posted a winning record since 2016 before this season. But these Commanders have exorcised one ghost after another.
Here are the most important things to know from Saturday night for both teams:
QB breakdown: Rookie or not, Daniels does not get flustered. Playing in his most hostile environment as a pro, and facing numerous blitzes, he stayed composed — as he has all season. Daniels threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns. His best work came under pressure. In the first half, Daniels threw for 160 yards against the blitz, completing 7-of-9 throws. His season high for a full game vs. the blitz was 177 yards vs. the Eagles in a Week 16 win. Saturday, Daniels also completed two passes on fourth down for 19 yards and two first downs.
Surprising performance: Washington’s defense. The Commanders allowed 31 points and 521 yards, but it made plays. The key: Washington intercepted four passes and had a strip-sack that led to a touchdown. Safety Quan Martin had a pick-six in the first half while corner Mike Sainristil intercepted a pass in the end zone late in the first half with Detroit in field goal range.
Promising trend: Receiver Dyami Brown has been huge in the postseason. Saturday, Brown caught six passes for 98 yards after catching five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the wild-card win over Tampa Bay. His speed mattered Saturday as he caught passes for 42 and 38 yards to set up scores. During the regular season, Brown caught 30 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown. — John Keim
Next game: NFC Championship Game vs. Eagles or Rams (3 p.m. ET, Sunday, Jan. 26)
Fans at Ford Field were left stunned after a season with such great promise ended with a five-turnover performance in the loss to Washington. The teams combined for 52 points at halftime, which matched the highest scoring first half of any game since the 2019 divisional playoffs between the Chiefs and Texans, per ESPN Research. But that number largely reflected on Detroit’s defense, which struggled badly to contain rookie Daniels and the Washington offense all night.
Compounding the unit’s issues, Detroit lost starting cornerback Amik Robertson to an elbow injury on the defense’s second play of the game.
QB breakdown: Goff threw three interceptions, including his first pick-six this season and lost a fumble. He also briefly exited the game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion after absorbing a big hit on Martin’s interception return for a TD. Goff finished 23-for-40 for 313 yards with a TD, 3 INTs and the fumble.
Silver lining: Second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs continued his ascent into NFL superstardom. He finished with 14 carries for 105 rushing yards as well as six catches for 70 receiving yards. He scored two touchdowns and flashed the moves and a burst that made Commanders defenders miss throughout the game. He set franchise marks with five career postseason TDs and 22 total this season.
Describe the game in two words: Big letdown. After a record-setting regular season in which they set a franchise mark for wins (15) and secured the 1-seed, Detroit got outplayed by Washington. Injuries to key defensive players, finally appeared to catch up to them. The Lions couldn’t seem to overcome the losses of starters CB Carlton Davis, DT Alim McNeill, DE Aidan Hutchinson and LB Malcolm Rodriguez against Washington’s high-powered offense. — Eric Woodyard
