Detroit — Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders, with nothing to lose, delivered a shocking blow to the top-seeded Detroit Lions, sending them to a swift playoff exit.
Daniels threw two touchdown passes, while rookie Mike Sainristil intercepted two passes, leading Washington to a 45-31 victory on Saturday night. The win secured the Commanders’ first NFC Championship appearance in 33 years, since their third Super Bowl win.
“It’s a surreal moment,” Daniels said.
The Commanders, seeded sixth and heavy underdogs at 14-5, defied expectations with a new quarterback, head coach, and general manager. “I always believed that we could achieve more than people give us credit for,” Daniels added.
Detroit, having earned a franchise-record 15 wins and the NFC’s top seed, saw their playoff hopes unravel with five turnovers. Lions coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the loss, saying, “This isn’t the time to talk about what a great year we had. We fell short, and that hurts.”
Sainristil, a national champion with Michigan, made a key interception on a trick play in the fourth quarter, further sealing the Commanders’ dominance. “Mike is somebody that’s hard to fool,” said Commanders coach Dan Quinn.
Jared Goff had a difficult game, throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble, while Daniels finished with 299 passing yards and 51 rushing yards, without a single turnover. “He has a different poise,” Quinn noted. “He’s a rare competitor.”
Daniels joined Joe Flacco as the second rookie quarterback to defeat a top-seeded team in NFL history. “Nothing surprises me with him,” said receiver Terry McLaurin, who turned a short pass into a 58-yard touchdown.
Washington, who had not won a playoff game in 19 years, continued their remarkable run by overcoming a 31-21 halftime deficit. Daniels set a rookie record with 242 passing yards in the first half, including a 58-yard touchdown pass to McLaurin and a 5-yard touchdown to Zach Ertz.
Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight catches for 137 yards. Despite a strong start to the second half, Washington answered with a 15-play, 70-yard drive capped by Brian Robinson’s second touchdown run, restoring their 10-point lead.
The Lions’ defense struggled to contain Washington, and the Commanders capitalized on key mistakes, including a fourth-and-2 penalty on Detroit, keeping their drive alive.
Injuries played a part, with Commanders OG Sam Cosmi suffering a leg injury and Lions cornerback Amik Robertson breaking his arm on Washington’s second play.
With the victory, Washington advances to the NFC Championship and will face the winner of the Los Angeles Rams-Philadelphia Eagles game for a shot at the Super Bowl.
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