The Detroit Lions finished the season with a 15-2 record, easily the top team in the NFC. But as always, injuries played a crucial role in their downfall. With several key defensive players absent, Detroit entered Saturday’s Divisional Round matchup against the Washington Commanders as the heavy favorite, though it quickly became clear that we had overestimated the depleted Lions and underestimated the Commanders.
By halftime, the score was 31-21 in favor of Washington, marking an NFL postseason record for second-quarter scoring. The first half featured a series of highlight-reel plays from both teams, with Jahmyr Gibbs nearly averaging double-digit yards per carry and Jayden Daniels playing like a prime Tom Brady (just ask Brady, who was commentating the game).
While Washington didn’t necessarily stop Detroit’s offense, the Lions made too many mistakes. Committing five turnovers in a playoff game is almost always a recipe for disaster. The Commanders capitalized on these mistakes, stalling the Lions’ momentum at critical moments. The result was a 45-31 win, a statement victory from Washington.
For Detroit, it’s back to the drawing board. Here’s who deserves the most blame for the loss:
3. Ben Johnson… WYD?
Ben Johnson is widely regarded as the top head coaching candidate in this year’s carousel. The Lions’ offensive coordinator has earned recognition for his bold play-calling and unmatched creativity. Johnson’s stock has risen so high that he turned down job offers last offseason to remain with Detroit for another year. Now, he’s in a prime position to land one of several open head coaching roles.
However, his recent performance comes at an unfortunate time. While one disappointing outing is unlikely to jeopardize his head coaching prospects, Johnson is notably being considered for the Raiders’ position. Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, didn’t seem particularly impressed during his commentary (though, of course, that isn’t seen as a conflict of interest by the NFL!)
Brady: “Not a great time for a trick play”
Ben Johnson just lost the Raiders job 🤣
— Patrick Pass (@PatrickPass35) January 19, 2025
The “trick play” in question involved a puzzling pitch and throw on first down in the fourth quarter. Down by 10, Detroit relied on Jameson Williams to make a throw into heavy traffic. The result was disastrous, as Mike Sainristil intercepted the pass, marking his second pick of the game.
JAMESON WILLIAMS PICKED OFF
4TH TURNOVER OF THE DAY FOR THE LIONS…😬
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/JV3fhkHOyi
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 19, 2025
While Johnson had several successful calls, this particular mistake was baffling and costly at a crucial moment. That interception essentially sealed the Lions’ fate, with Washington scoring a touchdown to make the game out of reach—potentially a 14-point swing.
Not great, Bob!
2. Aaron Glenn’s head coaching chances also took a hit
“Detroit’s defense was a complete disaster in the first half. Washington’s defense was similarly poor, but the winner reaps the rewards, while the loser shoulders the blame. As a result, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn may face tougher questions in his next head coaching interview following this game.
There’s no denying Glenn’s accomplishments in Detroit, nor can he be held fully accountable for the bizarre injuries his team has endured. But on Saturday, Glenn was outcoached. Kliff Kingsbury called the right plays almost every time. Detroit’s frequent blitzing and reliance on man coverage failed, as Jayden Daniels calmly delivered passes to Washington’s swift receivers and tight ends, who easily beat one-on-one coverage.
Detroit made some adjustments in the second half, but they were ineffective. The most glaring error came in the fourth quarter, when a 12-men-on-the-field penalty on Detroit turned a Commanders’ fourth-and-two on the five-yard line into a first-and-goal, which resulted in a touchdown.
Tom Brady calling for the Lions to call timeout as he notices 12 men on the field before the Lions defensive coaching. pic.twitter.com/Cza1AWi0d6
— Savage (@SavageSports_) January 19, 2025
Such a mistake reflects poor communication and discipline, which falls squarely on Glenn. While Dan Campbell should have called a timeout there, Glenn cannot escape all the blame. When your defense surrenders 45 points in the Divisional Round, excuses about injuries can only go so far. This was an embarrassing collapse for Detroit’s defense.”
1. Jared Goff was too erratic under pressure for the Lions
The Lions’ 45-31 defeat can largely be attributed to their five turnovers, four of which were directly caused by Jared Goff, who threw three interceptions and committed one critical fumble.
If Detroit had been a little more careful with the ball, they could have won this game. While the Lions moved the ball well and gained yards, they made costly errors when Washington capitalized. Goff’s third interception sealed the loss, though it wasn’t as impactful as his earlier mistakes.
His first two interceptions were entirely avoidable, especially considering the Lions’ strong running game, with Jahmyr Gibbs averaging 7.5 yards per carry. The question remains: why attempt some of these throws in the first place? One interception came from a poorly underthrown post route to the end zone, and another was a disastrous pick-six.
Jared Goff gets intercepted and returned for a TD… OHHH NO 😬 pic.twitter.com/JnX0rPrd9W
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) January 19, 2025
Goff has never been immune to turnovers, but after a stellar regular season, it’s frustrating to see his worst habits resurface in such a crucial game.
While the Lions were a great team hampered by injuries, let’s not downplay the Commanders’ deserving victory. Detroit’s mistakes handed the game to Washington, who executed their game plan flawlessly for four quarters.
