The Commanders are unbelievably going to the NFC Championship game after defeating the Lions 45-31 in Detroit.
Here are some of the quick facts from the Commanders’ 14th win of the season:
- The Commanders entered Saturday’s game as either a 9.5 or 10 pt underdog against the Lions.
- Washington won the turnover battle 5-0, with four interceptions of Jared Goff and a sack-fumble of Goff.
- With the win, next week will be Washington’s first NFC Championship game since the 1991 season (33 years).
- Rookie corner Mike Sainristil collected two interceptions.
- Second-year safety Quan Martin’s pick-six from 40 yards is the second defensive touchdown for the Commanders this season. It was also the first pick-six of his NFL career.
- Jayden Daniels completed 22 of 31 for 299 yards, two passing touchdowns, and no interceptions or sacks.
- RB Austin Ekeler was huge, gaining 47 yards on six carries while also contributing 41 receiving yards on four receptions (88 yards from scrimmage).
- The Washington defense, which has struggled at times this season, forced five Lions turnovers, sacked Jared Goff twice, and had five tackles for a loss.
- Though the Commanders struggled terribly to run the ball in recent weeks, tonight, they ran 42 times, gaining 182 yards. Brian Robinson, Jayden Daniels, and Austin Ekeler rushed for 77, 51, and 47, respectively.
- Last year’s team under Ron Rivera won four games. This year’s team under Dan Quinn is four quarters from the Super Bowl.
- Sadly for Detroit fans, the Lions remain the only NFC team never to reach the Super Bowl.
- Jared Goff came into the game tonight 1-4 against Dan Quinn. Tonight, Goff had four interceptions and one lost fumble.
- The Commanders’ defense had no answer for Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, as he gained 105 rushing yards on only 14 carries and 70 receiving yards on six receptions (175 total yards from scrimmage).
- The 42 points scored in the second quarter are the most in NFL playoff history (Washington 28, Detroit 14). Before tonight, the Lions had a +128-point differential in the second quarter.
- The Commanders came up with several big plays: Quan Martin’s 40-yard pick-six, completions to Terry McLaurin (58 yards), Dyami Brown (42 yards), Austin Ekeler (24 yards), John Bates (20 yards).
- The Lions were in the red zone, about to go up 14-3, when DE Dorrance Armstrong sacked Jared Goff, forcing a fumble that LB Frankie Luvu recovered.
