Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions (NFL Divisional Playoffs)
1ST QUARTER
13:58 ON THE CLOCK: The opening drive from the Lions starts at their 40 yard line due to a mistake on the opening kick off by Gonzalez as it goes out of bounds before reaching the endzone. Jared Goff looks long on 3rd & 13 but just behind Tim Patrick and the ball returns to the Commanders early on.
13:20 ON THE CLOCK: Washington starts their opening drive with Jayden Daniels finding Terry McLaurin for the first down. Another 2nd & short, thrown to Austin Ekeler who breaks and spins a tackle before being brought down inside the 40. The Commanders then go for it on 4th & 1 with backup QB Marcus Marriota on the field for a trick play trying to find QB1 Jayden Daniels but Al-Quadin Muhammed stops Marriota in a crucial play for the Lions defense. The ball goes back to the Lions.
10:38 ON THE CLOCK: The opening play of the drive on the 29 yard line, Jared Goff floats one to Jameson Williams for consecutive first downs on the 48 yard line. Goff then hands off to Jahmyr Gibbs who runs with the ball for 3 consecutive first downs. Gibbs is wide open again on the next play as the Lions QB finds him again and makes gains to put his team inside the 15. The man nicknamed Sonic shows his talents yet again. He is given the ball again as he seems to be unstoppable with the ball in his hands, but he does come up a yard short on that attempt. The ball then given to his “Knuckles” partner in David Montgomery who gets the yardage for 1st & GOAL. Gibbs is given the ball again and runs in with ease for the touchdown. Detroit leads 7-0.
7:02 ON THE CLOCK: On 2nd & 6 the partnership of Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin comes together again for the catch and gain of 11. A 3rd & 10 but Daniels does well and fires a dart to Jamison Crowder despite a 4 man rush controlled well by the Commanders offensive line. Followed by a great run by Brian Robinson Jr who runs through and breaks a tackle to get a first down. On 3rd & 10 Daniels looks for Dyami Brown, who seems to make the catch then drops it. The Detroit crowd is loud as Washington needs to kick a field goal. The 47 yard attempt by Gonzalez is good to make it 7-3.
3:41 ON THE CLOCK: Jared Goff throws to Sam LaPorta who’s open and runs for the first down. On the next play Jahmyr Gibbs is handed the ball on his own 35 yard line and runs with it to inside the opposite 25 yard line. Then on 3rd & 1, Jared Goff is sacked by Dorance Armstrong who punches the ball out and is recovered for a turnover by Frankie Luvu for the Commanders.
2ND QUARTER
15:00 ON THE CLOCK: Jayden Daniels has time to think on 2nd & 5 and throws a dime to Dyami Brown to make a gain to inside the 20 yard line. The Commanders then struggle but decide to go for it on 4th & 3. Daniels doesn’t panic and finds Zach Ertz for the yardage needed for 1st & GOAL. A 3rd & GOAL attempt tries to find McLaurin who is fouled and a flag thrown on Lions defender Kerby Joseph for pass interference. Replay of downs for Washington works in their favour as Brian Robinson Jr. gets the ball and runs into the endzone for Washington’s first touchdown of the match. Washington 10-7 Lions.
10:05 ON THE CLOCK: Detroit has the ball again with Goff searching for Amon-Ra St. Brown as it looks to be overthrown but St. Brown dives to make the catch on 3rd down. Gibbs then runs with the ball again and gets the first down with help from his team mates for the last yard or so. A 2nd & 10 as Goff finds another offensive weapon in Kalif Raymond, who drives through the Commanders offense before being stopped in the 5 yard line. The 1st & GOAL looks tricky with their QB1 almost sacked before he gets the ball out with milliseconds to spare in the direction of LaPorta, who dives and with one hand makes the catch. He spikes the ball in celebration. A sensational catch from the Tight End to give the Lions another 6 points. With even Tom Brady blown away by the catch on commentary. 10-14 to the Lions.
7:07 ON THE CLOCK: The Washington offensive line beat the blitz for Daniels to throw on 2nd & 7 to throw to Brown for the first down. Following that, Daniels finds McLaurin again who drives through 2 Lions defenders with help of his teammates and keeps going. He stiff arms the last Lions defender and dives for the touchdown as Washington answers straight back.
5:38 ON THE CLOCK: A 2nd & long for Detroit as Goff looks to go long even though he has men open. Which proves to be the wrong decision as it’s intercepted by Quan Martin, who runs all the way for a pick 6! Disaster for Detroit as they now trail 24-14.
5:19 ON THE CLOCK: Teddy Bridgewater comes in for Jared Goff. A 1st & 15 as Bridgewater hands off to Gibbs who gets the first down to help calm nerves inside Ford Field. A trick play as Gibbs is handed the ball, but he then hands it to Jameson Williams who goes through the Commanders defence through to the endzone for the touchdown. The immediate response that was needed for the Detroit fans who cheer loud for their team.
3:39 ON THE CLOCK: The Commanders are near the 40 on 2nd & 2 as Daniels runs the play himself and smartly goes out of play so the clock stops. Daniels looks deep on 2nd down thanks to good defending by his offensive line. A “perfect throw” is matched by a great catch by Dyami Brown inside the 10 for a 1st & GOAL. The 3rd & GOAL almost seems to have no pressure as Daniels remains calm and effortlessly finds Zach Ertz in the endzone for another 6 points. Washington 31-21 Detroit.
1:04 ON THE CLOCK: Jared Goff back in the game and hands it to Gibbs on 3rd & 3, as he runs for the first down yet again. A couple of plays later, Gibbs is thrown the ball and catches for another first down for his team. Just inside the 30 yard line Goff looks long for Williams but is intercepted AGAIN, this time by Mike Sainristil. A third turnover of the first half for Washington who celebrated in the endzone as they went in at halftime with a 10 point lead.
HALF TIME - WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 31 - 21 DETROIT LIONS
3RD QUARTER
9:55 ON THE CLOCK: A 3rd & 10 for the Lions as Tom Brady says “He’s gotta deliver here” about Jared Goff as he throws to St. Brown for a first down and more. A few plays later Goff finds Gibbs who bides his time and spins at the right moment to get the yardage needed for Detroit. A trick play follows with Goff giving the ball to Montgomery who then passes to St. Brown to run with as he powers his way inside the 10. A familiar play as Gibbs is handed the ball on 2nd & GOAL, which he drives through the Commanders defense to get the touchdown. The score narrows to 31-28.
2:03 ON THE CLOCK: The Commanders inside the 20 as they look to stretch their lead again. The 3rd & 6 is defended well as Daniels finds Brown but is stopped immediately from a great tackle by Safety Brian Branch. Jayden Daniels runs the 4th down himself and makes it with relative ease.
4TH QUARTER
15:00 ON THE CLOCK: Good defensive work from the Lions as they have the Commanders on 4th & 2 just 3 yards from the goal line. However, that is undone by them then having 12 men on the field when lining up for the next play. This leads to penalty markers and an automatic 1st & GOAL for Washington. On 2nd & GOAL, Brian Robinson Jr. pushes his way into the endzone for another Commanders touchdown. The 10 point lead is regained, 38-28.
12:50 ON THE CLOCK: “It’s the biggest drive of the season” says Tom Brady as the Lions start a crucial drive. Jared Goff then finds Tim Patrick who overcomes a tackle as well as stiff arming another before a big tackle takes him down at the 35 yard line. The Lions then elect for another trick play as they hand it off to St. Brown before he gives it to Jameson Williams to pass. However, as Williams throws one towards Gibbs it is short and intercepted YET AGAIN by Mike Sainristil.
12:04 ON THE CLOCK: The commanders have the ball again. The drive starts with Austin Ekeler being handed the ball, as he runs and runs to the 30. A 2nd & 5 sees Daniels run with the ball again as he dodges tackles and spins in another to be within inches of the first down in perseverance for his team. Later in the drive Daniels throws behind McLaurin on 3rd & 2 which has been rare in this game. Although, he then redeems this on the next play saving a turnover in possession by finding McLaurin and getting the 1st & GOAL. The 1st & GOAL is handed to Jeremy McNichols who powers his way through 4 defenders to stick his arms out with the ball to get the touchdown. Washington now leads 45-28.
6:28 ON THE CLOCK: Jared Goff with a great throw to find St.Brown for a big gain inside the 25. Goff again then finds St. Brown for another first down a few plays later. Despite the progress made, 3rd down results in no gain so the Lions are forced to kick the field goal. The 28 yard attempt by Jake Bates splits the sticks. The score was 45-31 at this stage.
4:08 ON THE CLOCK: The Commanders look to get the last score they need as they wind the clock down. A great play on 3rd & 5 as Daniels floats one to back up Tight End John Bates for the first down. A few plays later, on third down, Daniels hands it to Robinson who can’t make the yardage needed for the first down. Zane Gonzalez tried from 44 yards but was just wide left by a narrow margin.
1:40 ON THE CLOCK: A last ditch effort for the Lions as Goff runs himself on 4th & 1 to get the yardage and goes out of play to stop the clock. On the next play Goff has pressure from the Commanders but finds LaPorta who spins a tackle and dives for the first down. Another 4th & 1 goes to St. Brown who catches to keep the drive alive. The Lions are now just inside the 20 on 3rd & 10 when Goff tries to drill it to Patrick but it is intercepted AGAIN. The Safety Jeremy Chinn slides down on the 9 yard line to give the Commanders the win over the Lions. The Washington COmmanders are headed to the NFC Championship game for the first time in 33 years.
FINAL SCORE - WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 45 - 31 DETROIT LIONS
