In a highly anticipated Divisional Round matchup, the Detroit Lions are set to face the Washington Commanders this weekend. After earning a much-needed rest in the Wild Card round, the No. 1 seed Lions are looking to continue their playoff run against the No. 6 seed Commanders.
Head coach Dan Campbell expressed excitement about the return of David Montgomery, who had been sidelined with a torn MCL. While his comeback is certainly a boost for the team, the Lions have already begun preparing for their next challenge during the Wild Card matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They took the opportunity to scout and get a head start on Washington.
When asked about the perception that his team struggles to defend against running quarterbacks, Campbell didn’t hesitate to respond: “Tell me who does.”
Dan Campbell on the perception that the #Lions don't handle running quarterbacks well: "Tell me who does."
— Kory Woods (@KoryEWoods) January 13, 2025
Lions News: Dan Campbell Acknowledges Defensive Struggles Against Rushing Quarterbacks
Campbell makes a valid point. Defending against a quarterback who can both throw and run is an incredibly challenging task. Few teams are able to effectively contain such a dynamic playmaker.
Detroit is in for a tough challenge this weekend with Jayden Daniels coming to town. As a rookie, Daniels quickly established himself as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. He completed 69% of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and a 70.5 QBR. On the ground, he contributed 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Daniels continued his impressive play in his playoff debut, going 24-of-35 for 268 passing yards, 36 rushing yards, and two passing touchdowns in a win over Tampa Bay. The 24-year-old led Washington to a 10-play, 51-yard game-winning drive.
His ability to perform in clutch moments is evident. This season, Daniels has led the Commanders to five game-winning drives.
The Lions will certainly have their hands full with his dual-threat capabilities. In Week 15, Detroit faced off against the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen. In that game, Allen threw for 362 yards, ran for 68 yards, and accounted for four total touchdowns, leading Buffalo to a 48-42 victory.
While Allen is a more established quarterback, both he and Daniels share similar skill sets, which could cause problems for the Lions’ defense.
