DETROIT – Surprise, surprise.
The amazing rookie year of Jayden Daniels rolls on. And the star quarterback of the Washington Commanders has plenty of help.
And now it’s on to the NFC championship game.
Daniels was virtually flawless in sparking the Commanders to a stunning upset of the top-seeded Detroit Lions, 45-31, in an NFC divisional playoff shootout at Ford Field on Saturday night.
In a season’s worth of statements, Daniels delivered another one in passing for 299yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 52 yards and committing zero turnovers. He completed 22 of 31 passes and posted a 122.9 passer rating.
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He was cool, collected, efficient. As advertised…and demonstrated for months.
Washington (14-5) will meet the winner of the other NFC divisional playoff on Sunday, when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams.
The other quarterback?
Well, Jared Goff had himself a night. In the worst way.
Goff committed four turnovers – including three in the first half (two interceptions and a fumble) that set the course for the shocker that ends a Super Bowl vision for the Lions (15-3), who suddenly have another embarrassing playoff defeat to layer on the heartbreaking loss las year in the NFC title game at San Francisco.
This one will be best remembered for a wild second quarter. The Commanders ignited for four touchdowns. Momentum snatched. The teams combined for 42 points. Most ever in a quarter in NFL playoff history.
And there would have been even more points if Goff wasn’t intercepted in the end zone by Mike Sainristil in the final minute before halftime. It appeared the pass intended for Jameson Williams was late and a bit short. Williams, running a post pattern, gained a step on the defender. But as the ball arrived, Sainristil was in better position to grab the pass.
It figures. It was that type of half – and ultimately, game – for Goff. Late in the first quarter, with Detroit driving inside Washington’s 20, Goff fumbled as Dorance Armstrong barreled around the corner an delivered a crushing hit. Fumble. Frankie Luvu recovered. Blown opportunity.
Meanwhile, the Lions defense developed a disturbing pattern of its own in the first half: Big plays. Dyami Brown hauled in a 42-yard dime from Daniels to set up Washington’s first touchdown, an 8-yard Brian Robinson Jr. run.
Then it was a 59-yard score from Terry McLaurin, off a simple screen. A juke here, broken tackle there and a balancing act on the sideline, put Washington back on top, 17-14, with the Zane Gonzalez conversion.
That lead expanded in a flash. Goff’s throw to Tim Patrick in the left seam was too high – but perfect for Quan Martin, positioned behind the receiver. The Commanders safety ran it back 41 yards.
The 10-point cushion, 24-14, turned out to be too much for Detroit.
After Williams raced for a 61-yard touchdown on an end around to cut the margin to three points, Washington came back with a quick, 70-yard TD drive that was sparked by Daniels’ 38-yard completion.
Usually, the high-scoring Lions forced opponents to play catch-up.
This time, the shoe was on the other foot. And the Lions just couldn’t keep up.
