Lions waste best season in franchise history after falling apart to underdog Commanders in home playoff game

A franchise-record 15 regular play wins was washed down 8-mile roadworthy for the Detroit Lions. 

In a disastrous 45-31 nonaccomplishment to the Washington Commanders connected Saturday, the Lions watched their champion regular play successful franchise past spell to waste. 

Jayden Daniels threw for 2 touchdowns successful a flawless show by Washington’s dazzling rookie, and the Commanders reached the NFC title crippled for the archetypal clip since winning the Super Bowl 33 years ago.

"It’s a surreal moment," Daniels said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders celebrates with Terry McLaurin #17 aft defeating the Detroit Lions 45-31 successful the NFC Divisional Playoff astatine Ford Field connected January 18, 2025 successful Detroit, Michigan.   (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were astir double-digit underdogs against the Super Bowl favourite Lions (15-3) and overcame doubts arsenic they did each play with a rookie quarterback, caller manager and wide manager.

"I ever believed that we could execute much than radical springiness america recognition for," Daniels said.

Detroit, the NFC’s No. 1 effect for the archetypal time, doomed its chances by turning it implicit 5 times.

"If you crook the shot implicit 5 times against that team, it is going to beryllium hard to win," Lions manager Dan Campbell said.

Washington rookie Mike Sainristil had 2 interceptions, including 1 connected a instrumentality play with receiver Jameson Williams throwing into sum disconnected a reverse successful the 4th quarter. And Quan Martin returned a prime 40 yards for a touchdown.

Jared Goff threw 3 picks and mislaid a fumble, turning it implicit 3 times successful the ill-fated archetypal half.

Daniels finished with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing, and — conscionable arsenic important — didn’t crook the shot over.

He became the 2nd rookie backmost to sound disconnected a top-seeded team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore past Tennessee connected Jan. 10, 2009.

"Nothing surprises maine with him," said receiver Terry McLaurin, who turned a abbreviated walk from Daniels into a 58-yard touchdown.

First-year manager Dan Quinn led Washington to its archetypal playoff triumph successful 19 years past week. The Commanders rallied past Tampa Bay for their sixth comeback triumph and 5th consecutive connected the last play from scrimmage successful regularisation oregon overtime.

The Commanders, who converted 3 of 4 4th downs, didn’t fto Detroit support it that close.

"Give them credit," Campbell said. "They earned that game, and we didn’t."

Washington outscored Detroit 28-14 successful the 2nd 4th — the highest-scoring 4th successful NFL playoff past — to instrumentality a 31-21 pb astatine halftime.

Daniels had 242 yards passing successful the archetypal half, mounting a rookie grounds 1 week aft becoming the archetypal rookie to pb his squad successful yards rushing and passing successful a playoff win.

The erstwhile LSU star, who was the No. 2 prime overall, was 22 of 31, including the agelong TD connected the surface to McLaurin and a 5-yard propulsion for a people to Zach Ertz successful the 2nd quarter.

Brian Robinson ran for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns.

5 MOST INFAMOUS FAN MOMENTS IN SPORTS

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders is tackled by Jack Campbell #46 of the Detroit Lions during the 3rd 4th successful the NFC Divisional Playoff astatine Ford Field connected January 18, 2025 successful Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Goff finished 23 of 40 for 313 yards with a touchdown walk to Sam LaPorta that gave the Lions their past pb midway done the 2nd quarter.

Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns portion Amon-Ra St. Brown had 8 receptions for 137 yards.

Goff fumbled successful a collapsing pouch connected third-and-1 from the Commanders 17 precocious successful the archetypal 4th and Washington took advantage.

Daniels converted a fourth-and-3 from the Detroit 9 to widen a thrust capped by Robinson’s 2-yard touchdown run.

Three snaps aft Daniels’ TD propulsion to McLaurin, Goff overthrew his intended people and Martin intercepted it and took it to the extremity zone, putting the Commanders up 24-14. Goff took a deed from linebacker Frankie Luvu connected the interception instrumentality and was evaluated for a concussion.

With backup Teddy Bridgewater nether center, Williams scored connected a 61-yard reverse.

Detroit’s defense, though, could not halt the Commanders each night. Washington acceptable a play precocious successful points.

The Lions had a accidental to chopped into the shortage successful the last infinitesimal of the archetypal half, but Goff’s walk implicit the heavy mediate was picked disconnected by Sainristil successful the extremity zone.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders runs the shot against Za'Darius Smith #99 of the Detroit Lions during the 4th fourth successful the NFC Divisional Playoff astatine Ford Field connected January 18, 2025 successful Detroit, Michigan.  (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Detroit started the 2nd fractional strong, forcing Washington to punt for the archetypal clip and going 76 yards connected 11 plays connected the ensuing drive, capped by Gibbs’ 8-yard tally for his 2nd touchdown to marque it 31-28.

The Lions, though, weren’t stingy for agelong connected defense.

Washington had a 15-play, 70-yard touchdown thrust — extended by Detroit having 12 men connected the tract erstwhile facing fourth-and-2 from its 5 — and Robinson’s 2nd abbreviated touchdown tally restored the Commanders’ 10-point lead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.