🌈 Published : 2.55 AM EST / Sun January 19, 2025
The silence in a home stadium during the playoffs is unique, especially when the favored home team is losing. The fear of a season full of hope ending badly makes the atmosphere feel as quiet as a college library during finals. It’s overwhelming.
Welcome to Ford Field on Saturday night. The Washington Commanders, the fresh faces in the intense world of the NFL playoffs, made a big statement. They defeated the Detroit Lions, the top team in the NFC and favorites to make it to their first Super Bowl, with a strong 45-31 win. This victory takes them to their first NFC championship game since 1991 and shows that they can overcome any team and win any game.
Receiver Terry McLaurin said, “The mantra is anybody, anywhere, anytime — that was today. We’re really happy about this win, but we still have more to do. We’re not satisfied yet.”
Open your eyes, Washington. This fresh football scene will be the main topic in the league, no matter the outcomes of the last two divisional-round games on Sunday. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was impressively calm and a standout player, completing 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 51 yards.
This win was Washington’s seventh straight and the first in weeks that didn’t hinge on the last play. It showcased many qualities that first-year coach Dan Quinn has brought to a team that faced low expectations. The Commanders created five turnovers while not giving any away, which disrupted a Detroit offense that had been the highest-scoring in the league. They rushed for 182 yards and scored three touchdowns, bringing life back to a running game that had struggled. They played with energy, battled for every one of their 481 yards, and refused to back down.
This may appear abrupt, like a surprise explosion. It was a base created from the early conversations between Quinn and the new general manager, Adam Peters, with their team.
Nick Allegretti recalled, “Let’s go back to our first team meeting in April. Right away, the coaches, ‘DQ’ and ‘AP,’ made it clear: our goal is to win the Super Bowl. We’re aiming to make the playoffs, win playoff games, and reach the Super Bowl. That’s why we play this game.”