Detroit Lions – Page 28

Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl dreams crushed in 45-31 loss to Commanders

Detroit turns ball over 5 times, defense can’t stop Washington

DETROIT — A nightmare of a showing by the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions, squashed their Super Bowl dreams.

The Lions defense had no answer for Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, while Detroit’s offense turned the ball over five times in a 45-31 loss at Ford Field on Saturday night in the divisional round of the playoffs.

It was a dreadful combination. If there is such a thing as un-complementary football, this was it.

“You need a stop, you don’t get a stop, when we do get a stop we turn the ball over. We just didn’t complement each other. It’s just, as everybody knows, you turn the ball over five times — the last one was whatever so call it four that’s fine. It’s just too much,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “It’s too hard against a team like that to come back. We tried, we just couldn’t quite get over the hump. We thought if we could get within one score we’d have a chance, we just could not get over the hump.’’

Jahmyr Gibbs ran in for his second touchdown with 7 minutes left in the third quarter to tighten the gap, with Washington leading 31-28. But on their next series the Commanders came back with another touchdown.

Not sure what was more heart-breaking — losing in the NFC Championship a year ago or getting kicked out in the divisional round as a No. 1 seed this year. Close call.

Campbell was understandably emotional afterward and didn’t feel the timing was right to look at the big picture.

“At the end of the day, after the loss, I love the guys and respect them and appreciate everything they put into it. It’s not the time to talk about a great year or how many wins, cause at this moment I don’t think any of us feel that way,’’ Campbell said. “The whole point of doing what you do is to get to the show, that’s why you play this game. We fell short.’’

Five reasons the Lions lost:

ONE: The Lions coaching staff has preached all season about turnovers. And until Saturday, the Lions were decent at holding onto the ball. The five turnovers were the killer. Jared Goff threw four interceptions (one late in the fourth quarter) and lost the ball on a strip-sack. On a mysterious trick play in the fourth — what in the heck was that? — Jameson Williams threw a pass and was intercepted. Campbell said he would’ve liked to have him run it there.

TWO: Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was poised, didn’t let the noise bother him and found ways to gash the Lions defense. He threw two touchdown passes, zero interceptions and completed 22-of-31 for 299 yards. A mobile guy, he also ran for 51 yards. “We knew we were going to have our hands full,’’ Campbell said.

THREE: It’s rare that Jared Goff has an off night. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The Commanders’ defense was too much and he was not himself, finishing 23 of 40 for 313 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Goff was having trouble putting it all in words. “It’s a humbling game, a humbling sport,’’ Goff said. “We were on top of the world after that Minnesota game, standing here now trying to process this.’’ Gibbs tried but he could not carry the whole offense. He had 14 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns along with six catches for 70 yards.

FOUR: The defense was the weak link to start due to so many injuries. Then cornerback Amik Robertson injured his elbow on the Commanders’ second play of the game. They also lost safety Ifeatu Melifonwu to a hamstring injury. As he has done all year, Campbell never used injuries as an excuse for a loss. The defense was absolutely decimated most of the season and until Saturday, was able to overcome it and find a way to win 15 games.

FIVE: Coaching was an issue too. The defense did not look prepared for Daniels. Then in the fourth quarter, they had 12 men on the field with the Commanders on a fourth-and-2 at Detroit’s 5. Campbell took the blame for the penalty. Someone should’ve called a timeout when they saw the situation. Instead Brian Robinson ran in for a TD giving Washington a 38-28 lead. The Lions offense moved the ball – earning 521 total yards (compared to 481 for Washington), but was held to just 10 points in the second half.

Lions Dan Campbell: ‘We’re in the middle of the circus, man, and it’s about time to perform’

Five things to watch as the Lions host the Commanders

A year ago, the Detroit Lions won a pair of playoff games and ended their 32-season drought without a postseason win.

It was good, but it wasn’t enough. In fact “it takes more” became the motto for this season. Mottos don’t win games, but they can plant the seeds. Thriving is mutual and that is what the Lions have accomplished with a second straight NFC North title, a 15-2 record and the No. 1 seed.

It all leads up to Saturday night when the heavily-favored Lions host the Washington Commanders in the NFL divisional round.

The bull’s-eye has been on the Lions for every game this season so it’s not new. Coach Dan Campbell does not feel a difference of expectations.

“I look at it as like, I know who we are, I know what we’re about, I know how we have to prepare, I respect the opponent, and now it’s time to go to work, that’s how I look at it,’’ Campbell said. “I don’t look at anything else, I don’t think of, ‘What if it doesn’t, what if the –‘ The what ifs, man, I couldn’t sleep at night if I lived that way, there’s no freaking way. So, no, I don’t think of that.

“We’re the one seed, we earned the one seed, we’ve got a good opponent coming in and we’re going to be ready to play. That’s how I look at it,’’ the coach added.

With the turnaround from a 3-13-1 season in 2022, the Lions may not exactly be America’s team now, but they are in the conversation. Under Campbell the Lions are 11-2 in primetime games. The networks love them and the ratings that come along with them.

While there may be extra attention it’s nothing the Lions cannot handle.

“We’ve had attention for four years here. I mean, there’s been more stuff that’s been made out, that’s been built one way, we’ve been so good, we’ve been so bad, we’re a laughingstock, now we’re great, and it’s just been this rollercoaster of ups and downs, and it’s the next week of it, you know what I mean?’’ Campbell said.

“And so, this is nothing new that we’re in, this is nothing new for me, for the coaches, for the players. We’re in the middle of the circus, man, and it’s about time to perform, that’s the world we’re in,’’ the coach added.

Five things to watch:

ONE: Jayden Daniels’ poise for a rookie quarterback has turned heads all season. He’s thrown 25 touchdowns against just nine interceptions and he’s the team’s leading rusher. Obviously, mobile quarterbacks can present issues. “He is dangerous. He’s dangerous, he poses a major threat. He does not play the position like a rookie quarterback. He’s composed, he understands how to progress, he sees the field well, he can buy time with his legs, he’s a dangerous runner, he’s smart, you can tell he understands how to run that offense, what they’re asking him to do, and then he’s got weapons,’’ Campbell said.

TWO: Run the ball and run it some more. Running back David Montgomery will return from a knee injury with no pitch count. He’s ready to roll and help exploit Washington’s porous rushing defense which gives up 137.5 yards per game. He said stakes are high each game but there’s a certain vibe this week. “We’ve got guys in the locker room who take this personal, they take their job very serious. Everybody is locked in — you can see it, you can feel it, you can smell it. I’m just happy to be a part of it,’’ Montgomery said.

THREE: Ball possession will be key. The Commanders are good at it, so are the Lions who ‘edged’ the Vikings 36:12 to 23:48 in time of possession in the win that clinched the No. 1 seed. In the 23-20 wildcard win at Tampa last week, the Commanders held the ball 35:26 to Tampa’s 24:34. “Certainly to possess the ball is big, that’s what Washington does a good job of, watching them, I mean, they possess the ball, they finish the game out’’ Campbell said. “They were able to do that, get first downs, and so that’s big, and to be able to run the ball is what helps you do that. So yeah, that’s a big part of it.”

FOUR: Expect Jared Goff to have a good day against the Commanders’ man coverage. He excels when that’s the case and Washington is big on it. Goff never takes any team lightly. “They’re good, they’re young, they’re feisty. I think the whole team is young and hungry and we’re aware of that and we have to come out and be ready to go,’’ Goff said.

FIVE: Get points on the board early and keep piling them on. The Lions have outscored opponents 103-84 in the fourth quarter all season and 54-29 in the last five games. They finish, it’s why they’ve only lost two games. Keep in mind, the ‘’Cardiac Commanders’’ excel at finishing too. Their last five games were all won by a total of 17 points, They’ve outscored opponents 64-28 in the fourth quarter of those last five games. Daniels excels in clutch situations with a 117.3 passer rating when tied or down by eight points or fewer in the fourth quarter or overtime.

UP NEXT: The Lions/Commanders winner will face the winner of Rams/Eagles (Sunday at 3 p.m.) in the NFC Championship game at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, at Ford Field.

Lions RBs Montgomery and Gibbs could be a problem for the Commanders

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs missed his sidekick David Montgomery for the final three regular season games.

On Saturday night, in the NFL divisional round game against the Washington Commanders, they will be back together against a team that’s ranked 30th in rushing defense.

“It’s going to be great, I missed him a lot, being around him everyday. Not being around him everyday was so much different,’’ Gibbs said on Wednesday. “Just being on the sideline with him, cracking jokes and stuff just watching him play – he’s a great player. I love watching what he does. It’s going to be fun to get back to what we were doing.’’

And what they were doing is helping the Lions to a 15-2 record and smashing franchise records along the way.

Even though he missed his buddy, Gibbs excelled in those three Montgomery-less games — all wins. He had 64 carries, 365 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns, along with 13 catches for 122 yards and a receiving touchdown.

Typically, Montgomery starts the game and the two alternate depending on who is having success. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson wouldn’t say if that will be the case on Saturday.

“It’s to be determined. Gibbs has certainly had a hot hand as of late and I expect David to come in and pick up where he left off,’’ Johnson said. “If the last two days (of practice) are any indication, he’s of the right mindset right now.’’

Montgomery, who rehabbed from an MCL sprain that happened on Dec. 15, is ready. He doesn’t want a pitch count, he just wants to go.

This dynamic duo was part of Campbell and GM Brad Holmes’ plan all along. They signed Montgomery as a free agent from the Bears in March 2023, and then a month later drafted Gibbs in the first round in a move that drew criticism from around the League. Obviously they’ve been vindicated.

Campbell said they were lucky to play in the NFC North with Montgomery.

“He was a pain in the rear. I hated playing against him because I thought he was a hammer. And we’ve got even better than that and I thought he was a good player. A tone-setter, heavy, great feet, can cut, finishing power, can protect, (he’s a) receiver out of the back. He can do it all. He’s a hammer.’’

Campbell said when he and Holmes scouted Gibbs they were blown away.

“We saw the fit immediately,’’ Campbell said. “For us it was always about a 1-2 punch.’’

(UP NEXT: Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions, 8 p.m. on Saturday at Ford Field.)