The No. 1 seed Detroit Lions (15-2) host the No. 6 seed Washington Commanders (12-5) in the NFC divisional round on Saturday in a matchup that will be the fourth time these two teams face off in the playoffs. The Commanders have won each of their three previous postseason meetings with Washington holding a 31-16 all-time advantage over the Lions.
In preparation for the matchup, here are the 10 best players to keep an eye on from the Commanders-Lions game:
* Wagner, a six-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler, has logged 100-plus tackles in each of his 13 NFL seasons and is fourth in league history with 1,838 combined tackles.
* Luvu recorded 99 combined tackles, eight sacks, seven passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble in the regular season and added to his totals with a strong performance in the wild-card round.
* Joseph, a five-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, has been a ball hawk in Detroit’s secondary, with a NFL-high nine interceptions and 12 passes defended this season.
* McLaurin, a two-time Pro Bowler, has been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL, with a career-high 13 receiving touchdowns this season and 1,000-plus receiving yards for the fifth consecutive season.
* Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, is having a spectacular rookie season as both a passer and rusher, tossing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding 891 yards on the ground.
* Goff, a four-time Pro Bowler, has put together arguably the best season of his NFL career, throwing for 4,629 yards, 37 touchdowns, and a 111.8 passer rating while completing 72.4% of his passes.
* St. Brown, a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, has been one of the premier receivers in the NFL, with 100-plus receptions and 1,100-plus receiving yards in each of the past three seasons.
* Sewell, a first-round pick in the 2021 draft, has been an anchor on the Lions’ offensive line, earning two All-Pro and three Pro Bowl selections.
* Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowler, has been a stalwart on the Lions’ offensive line, ranking third among centers with a 90.8 run-blocking grade this season.
* Gibbs, a Pro Bowler in each of his two seasons, has become one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL, rushing for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns this season while adding 52 receptions for 517 yards and four touchdowns.