Rookie QB Jayden Daniels leads Commanders to upset of top-seeded Lions

DETROIT — The Washington Commanders now not are only a feel-good story. They’re now a risk to win a title in one of the crucial unlikely seasons in franchise historical past.

The Commanders earned a spot within 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 recreation between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams (3 p.m. ET, NBC).

It’s the primary time the group has reached the NFC Championship Game for the reason that 1991 season. Last week, it received its first playoff recreation for the reason that 2005 season.

The Commanders did it with an offense that punted solely as soon as and gained 482 whole yards towards a workforce that had gone 15-2 within the common season.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels, as soon as extra, starred. He threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 52 yards. The offense scored 38 factors and acquired one other seven due to a pick-six by security Quan Martin.

The Commanders completed this feat one 12 months after going 4-13 and making huge modifications to its entrance workplace, teaching employees and roster. From 1992 — the 12 months after Washington received its final Super Bowl — till 2023, the group posted the NFL’s fourth-worst successful share.

Before this season, the franchise had not posted a successful report since 2016. But the Commanders have exorcised one ghost after one other.

Here are a very powerful issues to know from Saturday night time for each groups:

QB breakdown: Rookie or not, Daniels doesn’t get flustered. Playing in his most hostile surroundings as a professional, and dealing with quite a few blitzes, he stayed composed — as he has all season. Daniels threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns. His greatest work got here beneath strain. In the primary half, Daniels threw for 160 yards towards the blitz, finishing 7-of-9 throws. His season excessive in a recreation vs. the blitz was 177 yards towards the Eagles in a Week 16 win. On Saturday, Daniels additionally accomplished two passes on fourth down for 19 yards and two first downs.

Surprising efficiency: Washington’s protection. The Commanders allowed 31 factors and 521 yards, however they made performs on protection. Washington intercepted 4 passes and had a strip-sack that led to a landing. Safety Quan Martin had a pick-six within the first half whereas nook Mike Sainristil intercepted a go in the long run zone late within the first half with Detroit in area aim vary.

Promising pattern: Receiver Dyami Brown has been enormous within the postseason. On Saturday, Brown caught six passes for 98 yards after catching 5 passes for 89 yards and a landing within the wild-card win over Tampa Bay. His pace mattered Saturday as he caught passes for 42 and 38 yards to arrange scores. During the common season, Brown caught 30 passes for 308 yards and a landing. — John Keim

Next recreation: NFC Championship Game vs. Eagles or Rams (3 p.m. ET, Sunday, Jan. 26)

Fans at Ford Field have been shocked after a season with such nice promise ended with a five-turnover efficiency within the loss to Washington. The groups mixed for 52 factors at halftime, which matched the highest-scoring first half of any recreation for the reason that 2019 divisional playoffs between the Chiefs and Texans, per ESPN Research. But that quantity largely mirrored on Detroit’s protection, which struggled badly to comprise rookie Daniels and the Washington offense all recreation.

Detroit beginning cornerback Amik Robertson suffered an elbow damage on the protection’s second play of the sport and did not return, compounding the unit’s points.

QB breakdown: Jared Goff threw three interceptions, together with his first pick-six this season, and misplaced a fumble. He additionally briefly exited the sport within the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion after absorbing an enormous hit throughout Martin’s interception return for a TD. Goff completed 23-for-40 for 313 yards with a landing, 3 interceptions and the fumble.

Silver lining: Second-year operating again Jahmyr Gibbs continued his ascent into NFL superstardom. He completed with 14 carries for 105 speeding yards in addition to six catches for 70 receiving yards. He scored two touchdowns and flashed the strikes and burst that made Commanders defenders miss all through the sport. He set franchise marks with 5 profession postseason TDs and 22 whole this season.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Big letdown. After a record-setting common season during which they set a franchise mark for wins (15) and secured the 1-seed, the Lions obtained outplayed by Washington. Injuries to key defensive gamers lastly appeared to catch as much as them. The Lions could not appear to beat the losses of CB Carlton Davis, DT Alim McNeill, DE Aidan Hutchinson and LB Malcolm Rodriguez — all starters — towards Washington’s high-powered offense. — Eric Woodyard