A franchise-record 15 regular season wins was washed away as the Detroit Lions suffered a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Playoff. Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to their first NFC Championship appearance in 33 years, finishing with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing. Rookie Mike Sainristil had two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and quarterback Jared Goff threw three interceptions and lost a fumble in the first half.
The Lions’ best season in franchise history came to a disappointing end as they turned the ball over five times. The Commanders overcame doubts all season with a rookie quarterback and new coach, converting 3 of 4 fourth downs in the game.
The Lions led 14-10 early in the second quarter, but Washington scored 21 unanswered points in the quarter, capped by Zach Ertz’s 5-yard touchdown catch. The Commanders outscored the Lions 28-14 in the second quarter, the highest-scoring quarter in NFL playoff history.
The loss sends the Lions back to a familiar place of disappointment, considering they are one of the least successful franchises in the NFL with only one league championship in 1957 and no Super Bowl appearances. Prior to last season, the team had gone 32 years without a playoff win, snapping the streak with back-to-back playoff wins. The stunning loss to the Commanders has left Detroit fans feeling bitter and disappointed, with the Lions’ season now marked as another in a long history of playoff heartbreak.