Washington Commanders shock Detroit Lions 45-31 to book NFC Championship game spot

One team that booked its trip to the conference championship on Saturday is returning to a comfortable place, having gone seven straight years. The other hasn’t been on a stage this big since 1992.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders are both one win away from the Super Bowl after convincing wins on Saturday. The Chiefs knocked off the Houston Texans 23-14 while the Commanders upset the top-seeded Detroit Lions 45-31.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for the Commanders, having won only four games a year ago. But that poor season allowed them to grab quarterback Jayden Daniels in the draft and the rookie has taken the league by storm in his first season, playing with an unnatural poise as he guides his team deep into the playoffs.

For the Chiefs, it’s about as unremarkable as it gets. They’ve now won eight straight playoff games and have played in every AFC Championship Game since the 2018-19 season. Patrick Mahomes and company are regulars around this part of the season and are looking forward to a matchup against either the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens in the next round.

Here’s what to know about Saturday’s NFL divisional round action:

Come back to CNN.com on Sunday as we provide live updates for the final two games of the divisional round of the NFL playoffs when the Los Angeles Rams play the Philadelphia Eagles at 3 p.m. ET and the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills square off in the highlight game of the weekend at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu recovers a Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff fumble during the first half.

Eventually, what it came down to is what it always comes down to for the Detroit Lions: Mistakes at crucial times.

First, it was quarterback Jared Goff losing a fumble as his offense was looking near-unstoppable in the first quarter, driving for a second touchdown. After that, it was a pick-six from Goff to Quan Martin that game the Commanders a two-score lead.

Right before halftime, it was another Goff interception as the Lions looked to try and cut the deficit back down to three.

But the real backbreakers game in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

First, the Lions handed the Commanders a first down on fourth-and-two from the Detroit five-yard line by having 12 defenders on the field. The Lions defense had been feeling some momentum after the offense once again made the deficit only three points, and stopping the Commanders could have given the Lions the chance to tie or take the lead. Instead, the penalty gifted Washington a first down and two plays later, running back Brian Robinson powered into the end zone to put Washington back up by 10.

Then, three plays later, the Lions tried to go to their bag of tricks and instead had an anvil fall on their collective head. Jameson Williams took a pitch and looked to throw, eventually forcing the ball into tight coverage to running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Mike Sainristil picked off the pass, and the turnover led to another Commanders’ touchdown.

Goff threw one more pick in the final seconds, just to put the cherry on top of the mistake cake for the Lions.

It’s a crushing loss for a team that had played so well during the best season in franchise history. The promise of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs led to many fans allowing dreams of Super Bowl glory to dance in their heads for the first time in a long time.

Instead, it’s an upset that will add to the collection of horrors fans of this long-downtrodden franchise have endured over the decades. Even more haunting: The lingering thought that Detroit will never have a team this good again and the best shot for a Super Bowl championship in Motown has just gone up in smoke.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates in the second half.

Jayden Daniels was thankful after the big win, telling Fox Sports that the team believed in each other.

Daniels was asked about his sense of calm as he ripped through the Lions’ defense.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels runs the ball.

Fox Sports’ Tom Brady, who has seen it all on the field, couldn’t believe what he was watching on Saturday night.

The points came fast and furious from the start at Ford Field in Detroit as the Washington Commanders defeated the NFC’s top-seeded Lions by a score of 45-31.

With the score already 10-7 Commanders, Lions tight end Sam LaPorta made one of the best catches you will ever see to give the Lions a first half lead. Goff was forced from the pocket by the Commanders pass rush and, as he was being brought down, he tossed toward the second-year tight end. The Iowa product laid out and brought in an incredible one-handed grab for the score to put Detroit in front 14-10.

The Commanders quickly answered with their own TD – a massive 59-yard strike from Jayden Daniels to Terry McLaurin to put the Commanders back on top 17-14.

Panic began to spread over Ford Field as the offensive miscues mounted for the home team.

Goff sailed a pass over wide receiver Tim Patrick as he tried for another big play, but the ball landed in the hands of the Commanders’ Quan Martin, who zigzagged through Lions’ players for a 40-yard pick-six to go up by 10.

The Lions offense had an emphatic answer. On a trick play reverse, Jameson Williams took the ball and ran through scrambling Commanders’ defenders for a 61-yard score – punctuated by a front flip into the end zone to pull Detroit back to a three-point deficit at 24-21.

Brady went nuts in the booth: “This is video game stuff right here!”

The Commanders offense wasn’t content to just coast into halftime up three. Daniels threw a 38-yard prayer to Dyami Brown, which eventually led to a five-yard touchdown pass for tight end Zach Ertz to extend the lead for the Commanders. After two quarters, Washington led by 10, 31-21.

It was a historic first half in Detroit. Seven touchdowns to seven different players in a game that produced 42 total points in the second quarter – the most in NFL postseason history.

The Lions defense got an important stop to start the half, forcing the Commanders to punt for the first time. The Detroit offense followed that up with a touchdown drive to get within three points.

But Daniels and the Commanders’ offense (and perhaps the ghosts that have haunted the Lions franchise for decades) were simply too tough to keep in check Saturday night.

The rookie quarterback drove the Commanders down the field to the Detroit 16-yard line, where they faced a fourth-and-two. Washington head coach Dan Quinn decided to be aggressive and sent his offense to try and pick up the first down, and succeeded on a quarterback keeper from Daniels.

A 15-play, over eight-minute, 70-yard drive was capped off by Washington running back Brian Robinson’s second touchdown of the game to yet again make it a 10-point game.

Facing a 10-point deficit with a little more than 12 minutes to go, Williams threw a back-breaking interception on one of Detroit’s trademark trick plays, which have been a hallmark of the NFL’s top-scoring offense all season.

Washington capitalized once again. This time it was running back Jeremy McNichols’ turn to pound the ball in for another touchdown to put the wild card Commanders up 45-28.

The Commanders scored 21 points off Detroit turnovers in the game.

After a field goal to cut the Lions’ deficit to 14 points, Detroit was back in the red zone in the final minute of the game, but a third interception of the night from Goff put to rest any hope of a Motor City Miracle.

All that remained was victory formation for Washington. Daniels took a knee and the game’s final seconds ticked away.

The Commanders advance to the NFC Championship game for the first time since the 1991-92 season, where they will play the winner of the Philadelphia-Los Angeles game on Sunday.

Counterpoint to the below post: All hope is gone for the Lions.

Trailing by 14 at the two-minute warning, the Lions faced a fourth-and-one near midfield. Quarterback Jared Goff keeps the Lions alive for a bit longer by using his legs to pick up the first down.

Goff picks up another first down by passing to Sam LaPorta for 11 yards, as the Commanders fans in attendance sing “Hail To The Commanders.” Another pass is completed to Kalif Raymond for nine yards, but the clock keeps ticking.

The Lions pick up a first down on fourth-and-one and spike the ball with 39 seconds to go at the Washington 17-yard line.

Two plays later, Goff throws his third interception of the game – the fifth Lions turnover – with Jeremy Chinn with the pick.

Jayden Daniels takes a knee and this one is over. The Commanders are on to the NFC Championship game for the first time since the 1991-92 season.

They’ll play the winner of Philadelphia-Los Angeles on Sunday.

So maybe Zane Gonzalez is human after all?

After the Lions defense stifled the scorching hot Commanders offense to force a field goal, Gonzalez missed a 44-yarder to keep Detroit’s diminished hopes of a comeback alive.

Lions have under two minutes to find 14 points.

Score: Commanders 45, Lions 31

The Lions are in desperation mode and try an onside kick to get the ball back quickly.

It fails.

Commanders tight end Zach Ertz grabs the bouncing ball and falls on it to give the Washington possession at their own 40-yard line.

Washington is getting very close to pulling off the upset here.

It’s just pure pain for Lions fans the rest of the way now.

With the Commanders up 17 and 7:31 minutes to go, the Lions needed to score touchdowns quickly and also get defensive stops while also avoiding any critical mistakes. Detroit has shown an ability to do the first thing. Defensive stops have been lacking, and critical mistakes are abundant.

The Lions started eating up chunks of yardage but strangely didn’t seem to be in hurry-up offense mode despite the ticking clock. A few big passes moved the Lions down to the Washington 25-yard line, before Goff found St. Brown at the Washington 12-yard line. The Lions aren’t able to get more than two additional yards on the next three plays and Jake Bates comes out to kick a field goal.

The Lions kicker has been automatic this year and nails it. There’s still a lot of work to do, and now only five minutes to do it.

Score: Commanders 45, Lions 31

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols runs the ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Washington Commanders are within arms reach of making the NFC Championship game following a Jeremy McNichols rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 17.

The Commanders play-calling has been aggressive all season and that mindset has continued all throughout Saturday’s game.

Yet again, Washington found themselves with a decision to go for it on fourth down and per usual, they did and successfully converted to extend the drive and eventually set up the potential dagger touchdown.

The Commanders are three-for-four on successfully converting on fourth down tonight.

Washington are just over five minutes away from advancing to their first conference championship game since 1992.

Score: Commanders 45, Lions 28

The weight of history is just too much.

The penalty on the Commanders’ last drive, which handed Washington a first down, for having 12 men on the field is classic Detroit Lions. In the biggest moments, this franchise simply always finds a way to make the wrong play at the wrong time.

With a depleted defense that can’t stop Jayden Daniels and the Commanders and an offense that has made three killer mistakes, it’s simply looking like it’s all too much to overcome for the top-seeded Lions.

The last time the Detroit Lions won a championship was 1957. A lot of fans worried after last year’s loss in the NFC championship that they’d never see the Lions get that close again.

And now, facing a 10-point deficit with a little more than 12 minutes to go, wide receiver Jameson Williams just threw a killer interception on an attempted trick play.

It’s all so … Lionsy.

Score: Commanders 38, Lions 28

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson runs the ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

One might be able to slow the Commanders offense but to stop them completely?

It’s a tall task and they are proving it at a raucous Ford Field.

A 15-play, over eight-minute, 70-yard drive was capped off by Washington running back Brian Robinson’s second touchdown of the game to yet again make it a 10-point game.

Time is slowly running out for the Lions to figure things out and avoid an early elimination for the NFC’s top seed.

Score: Commanders 38, Lions 28

Well, here it comes.

The fourth quarter this season has been Jayden Daniels’ time to shine this season, having engineered scores of big drives to win games during this rookie season. The Lions, meanwhile, have to face down a combination of the Commanders’ offense and the demons that have haunted the franchise for nearly seven decades.

The Lions defense got an important stop to start the half, forcing the Commanders to punt for the first time. The Detroit offense followed that up with a touchdown drive to get within three points.

But Daniels and the Commanders are simply too tough to keep in check for long right now. The rookie quarterback drove his team down the field to the Detroit 16-yard line, where they faced a fourth-and-two. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn decided to be aggressive and sent his offense to try and pick up the first down, and succeeded on a quarterback keeper from Daniels.

The Commanders will start the fourth quarter facing third-and-two from the Detroit five-yard line, looking to go back up by 10.

Score Commanders 31, Lions 28

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs celebrates with teammates after running the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Detroit had to have a touchdown to start this second half and, with a little help from a missed call by the referees and a signature trick play, they got it.

After the Detroit defense did their job, forcing a Commanders punt, the Lions offense took over on their own nine-yard line. The drive started with David Montgomery going on an 11-yard run, powering through Commanders’ defenders. After an incomplete pass, another Montgomery run went eight yards to set up third-and-two.

On that play, the Commanders got flagged for a 15-yard face-mask penalty that gave the Lions a first down. Replay showed it was a missed call – the Commanders’ Dante Fowler Jr. actually grabbed Montgomery’s shoulder pad, but the referees thought it was the running back’s face mask.

The Commanders stuffed two straight runs from Jahmyr Gibbs after that call, setting up third-and-long. Quarterback Jared Goff found wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 19-yard gain, bringing the ball into Washington territory and picking up a key first down.

Gibbs once again made a big play on second-and-10, taking a short pass from Goff and weaving through the Commanders’ defense for 11 yards to the Washington 27. And then the Lions trickery came out – Goff pitched the ball to Montgomery, and it looked like it’s about to be a halfback sweep, but instead Montgomery tossed a shovel pass to St. Brown, who breaks up the middle for 20 yards down to the Washington seven-yard line.

On second-and-goal, Gibbs got the hand off and just lowered his shoulder to go through a Commanders defender for the touchdown.

The Lions are back within three after the extra point. Another big drive for the Lions defense here.

Score: Commanders 31, Lions 28

In what feels like a hundred years, the Commanders offense has come away without any points after an offensive possession.

To put it lightly, it’s been a struggle for the Detroit defense but they came up with a huge stop of Jayden Daniels on Washington’s first possession of the half.

Washington punts the ball back to the Lions, who will look to cut into the 10 point deficit.

Score: Commanders 31, Lions 21

The second half is underway with the Lions kicking off to the Commanders.

This might be the most important drive of the game.

Score: Commanders 31, Lions 21

Suffice to say that this is not going to plan for the Detroit Lions. The tough part now? The ghosts start to come out.

The ghosts of Detroit Lions’ failures past are always right behind every Lions fan – and often right behind Lions teams as well. For decades – decades! – this franchise was mired in a culture of losing. When the going got tough, the Lions collapsed under the weight of their trauma.

Maybe that’s the early retirements of Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, arguably the best to ever play in their position in NFL history. Maybe that’s watching high draft pick after high draft pick turn out to be a failure in the early part of this century. Maybe it’s the second half of last year’s NFC Championship Game when the San Francisco 49ers came back from a 24-7 Lions lead to win.

For this year’s team, maybe that’s watching Aiden Hutchinson, Alim McNeil, Malcolm Rodriguez and so many other defensive stars get knocked out for the season.

And for fans who have been around decades, maybe that’s watching the NFL’s only on-field death in 1971 or Billy Sims writhing on the turf after such a promising start to his career.

The heat is rising in the faces of Lions fans all around the world right now. They’ve all seen these kinds of games before, when high hopes disappear in a poof of crushing disappointment.

All year Lions fans have thought this team is different. The second half will answer if they are.

Score: Commanders 31, Lions 21

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin stiff arms Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph on a 59-yard touchdown reception.

Fox Sports’ Tom Brady, who has seen it all on the field, couldn’t believe what he was watching on Saturday night.

The video game started when the game was already 10-7 Commanders.

One of the best catches you will ever see powered the Detroit Lions’ first half lead. Those at Ford Field exploded, at least Lions fans did, after Detroit quarterback Jared Goff produced a phenomenal throw that was equaled by an even better grab.

Goff was forced from the pocket by the Commanders pass rush and, as he was being brought down, tossed toward second-year tight end Sam LaPorta. The Iowa product laid out and brought in an incredible one-handed grab for the score.

Lions led 14-10.

The Commanders answered with their own TD.

Terry McLaurin reeled in a massive 59-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to put the Commanders back on top 17-14.

Then panic swept over Ford Field when two things went horribly wrong for the home team.

Goff sailed a pass over wide receiver Tim Patrick as he tried for another big play, but the ball landed in the hands of the Commanders’ Quan Martin, who zigzagged through Lions’ peeps for a 40-yard pick-six to go up by 10.

On the return, Goff got hit in the head area by a Commanders defender and was taken out of the game for evaluation. Backup QB Teddy Bridgewater, who literally spent this season leading a team to a high school football championship in Florida and only joined the team weeks ago, went in.

Bridgewater’s introduction brought some Michigan magic.

On a trick play reverse, Jameson Williams took the ball and ran through scrambling Commanders’ defenders for a 61-yard score – punctuated by a front flip into the end zone. The Lions were now just down three.

Brady went nuts in the booth: “This is video game stuff right here!”

But wait. The Commanders had yet another answer.

Daniels threw a 38-yard prayer to Dyami Brown, which eventually led to a five-yard touchdown pass for tight end Zach Ertz to extend the lead for the Commanders.

After two quarters, Washington leads 31-21.

Seven touchdowns to seven different players in a game that produced 42 total points in the second quarter – the most in NFL postseason history.

Score: Commanders 31, Lions 21

Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil intercepts a pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams in the second quarter.

It’s truly the halftime of discontent for all Lions fans.

Jared Goff returned to the field and started off the drive with an 11-yard first down pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown and then a seven-yard pass to tight end Sam LaPorta. A pass to Jahmyr Gibbs was ruled incomplete after a review by the booth, leaving the Lions with a third-and-three play with a little more than a minute remaining.

It was a critical play given how quickly the Commanders are moving the ball, and the Lions handed it off to Gibbs to power for a first down.

Goff finds Gibbs on second-and-10 for a 12-yard gain, moving the ball to the Washington 29-yard line with 35 seconds to play. On first-and-10, Goff tries to hit Williams again in the end zone and Mike Sainristil steps in front of the speedy Lions receiver and picks off Goff, his second interception of the game.

The Commanders decide to take a knee and this wild half is over.

Score: Commanders 31, Lions 21

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels throws a pass.

Is this a game of Madden NFL 25?

Jayden Daniels is doing un-rookie, video game like things.

For example, tossing up a 38-yard prayer to Dyami Brown which eventually set up a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz to extend the lead for the Commanders.

With the lights brightest, Daniels is proving to be a game changer. Just before halftime, Daniels has 242 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Jared Goff is back in for the Lions and will look to keep the back-and-forth game going.

Score: Commanders 31, Lions 21

Detroit Lions wide reciever Jameson Williams runs the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Hold off on that total meltdown, Lions fans. It is an insane game and it’s only getting more insane.

The mental health of everyone in southeast Michigan is hanging by a thread after Jared Goff is taken out of the game to be evaluated for an injury after he was popped by a Commanders defender on the pick-six. Backup QB Teddy Bridgewater, who literally spent this season leading a team to a high school football championship in Florida and only joined the team weeks ago, is in.

And then Jameson Williams happens.

On a trick play reverse, Williams takes the ball and runs 61 yards to the end zone, even slowing up so he can front-flip into the end zone for the score.

It’s 24-21 Washington. God knows what’s going to happen next.

Score: Commanders 24, Lions 21