The Detroit Lions had high hopes heading into the playoffs after a strong 15-2 regular season, which earned them the NFC’s top seed and a first-round bye. They were set to play every game at Ford Field, with the Super Bowl within reach. However, their plans quickly unraveled.
In a shocking turn of events, the Lions were eliminated in the first round by the Washington Commanders, suffering a 45-31 defeat on Saturday night. The game was marred by five turnovers, a key factor in their downfall and the latest setback in their quest for the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.
Coach Dan Campbell, visibly emotional during the postgame press conference, expressed his disappointment, saying, “We just didn’t complement each other.” He explained that the team failed to execute in critical moments — they couldn’t make stops when needed, and their turnovers only made things worse. Even though one turnover occurred in the final moments, he emphasized that four turnovers was still far too many.
Quarterback Jared Goff bore the brunt of the criticism, as he threw three interceptions and lost his first fumble of the season. One of those interceptions was returned 40 yards for a touchdown by Quan Martin, giving Washington a 24-14 lead.
“If I had played better, we might have won,” Goff reflected. “I gave up points by not protecting the ball, and that’s something I’m going to regret for a long time.”
While Goff struggled, he wasn’t the only issue. Washington’s rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, played exceptionally well, reminiscent of Goff’s best performances. Daniels threw for 299 yards, with 188 of those coming after the catch, allowing his receivers to make plays.
“We knew what the film showed about him,” Campbell said. “We were aware of the challenge, but we didn’t handle it as well as we hoped.”
The Lions’ defense, already depleted by injuries, also struggled, allowing 481 total yards — their third-highest total of the season. They gave up 182 rushing yards, with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler combining for 124 yards on 21 carries, while Daniels added 51 more on the ground.
Detroit failed to sack Daniels, a continuing issue since defensive star Aidan Hutchinson was lost to a broken leg in October. Hutchinson had hoped to return in time for the Super Bowl but was unable to help in this game.
The Lions faced more adversity when cornerback Amik Robertson broke his arm early in the game, adding to the team’s injury woes. However, Kindle Vildor stepped in and played well in Robertson’s absence.
Despite the injuries, it was the mental mistakes that proved most costly. Detroit was down by just 31-28 early in the fourth quarter and had a chance to make a stop when the Commanders faced a fourth-and-2 at the Lions’ 5-yard line. A stop here could have shifted momentum, but the Lions were penalized for having 12 players on the field. Two plays later, Robinson ran for a touchdown, pushing Washington’s lead to 38-28.
Campbell took responsibility for the penalty, but the Lions still had a chance to fight back. That hope faded after a baffling decision to have Jameson Williams throw a pass to Jahmyr Gibbs. Williams, unsure, rolled out and threw into coverage, where rookie Mike Sainristil intercepted the pass for his second of the night. Washington then controlled the clock, running off 4:33 before adding another touchdown to seal the game at 45-28.
“Obviously, I wish he had just run the ball,” Campbell said.
