Commander Country

Commanders vs. Lions Fourth Quarter Updates

The Washington Commanders face the Detroit Lions in the second round of playoffs, as the team looks to build on its strong postseason momentum.
Joanne Coley|
Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (30) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) during the fourth quarter of a NFC wild card playoff at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (30) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) during the fourth quarter of a NFC wild card playoff at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders are ready for a high-stakes playoff clash against the Detroit Lions. After a thrilling win in their first postseason game, the Commanders are confident, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Detroit’s offense, powered by quarterback Jared Goff and standout receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown, presents a significant challenge. Commanders defense will need to apply pressure on Goff while keeping the Lions' ground game in check to limit big plays.

On offense, Daniels’ dual-threat ability will be key. With weapons like Kerby Jospeh, Washington will rely on him to control the game. If the Commanders can execute a balanced offensive game plan and pressure Detroit’s offense, they’ll have a strong chance to advance in the playoffs.

PREGAME

- Commanders Inactives: QB Jeff Driskel (emergency 3rd quarterback), WR K.J. Osborne, CB Michael Davis, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., LB Dominique Hampton, G Chris Paul, DE Andre Jones Jr.

- Lions Inactives: QB Hendon Hooker (emergency 3rd quarterback), LB Mitchell Agude, OL Giovanni Manu, OL Kevin Zeitler, OL Colby Sorsdal, DL Pat O'Connor, DL Brodric Martin

1st Quarter

  • Washington won the toss and have elected to defer. Kick off was out of bounds. Lions will get the ball on the 40. The divisonal playoff round is underway.
  • Goff hands off to Montgomery for 2 yards. Goff again to Montgomery, but is immediately tackeld by Commanders Dante Fowler. -5 yards of on the play. Goff to Patrick across the middle but its incomplete. Lions punt it away. The punt is out of bounds. Commanders will take it on the 20 yard line.
  • Daniels with the first play of the game and he throws it in the middle to Ertz for 6 yards. Daniels then to McLaurin for 6 yards. Lions Robertson hurt on the play.
  • Daniels to Brown for 7 yards. Daniels is pressured but finds Eckler. Eckler runs for 24 yards on the play. 1st and 10, hand of to McNichols for a yard. Daniels attempts a pass to Ekeler, but pressure forces him to throw it out of bounds. 3rd and 9, Daniel scrambles but a flag iis thrown. PENALTY false start on Washington Biadasz. 3rd and 14, Daniels finds Crowder and picks up 13 yards on the play. They go for it on 4th down with a fake quarterback sneak to Mariota and he gets tied up in the Lions defense. Turnover on downs.
  • Goff to Williams for 19 yards. Goff hands off to Gibbs for 15 yards and first down Lions. Goff finds a wide open Gibbs for 23 yards. Gibbs again for 9 yards. Montgomery up the middle for 4 yards. Gibbs to the left for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN. Lions attempt the extra point and its GOOD. Lions lead 7-0.
  • Kick off is out of bounds. Commanders will take the ball on the 30. Daniels keeps the ball and picks up 4 yards. 2nd and 6, McLaurin with the catch for 11 yards. Daniels with toss to Ekeler but loses 4 yards. Daniels with quick throw to Ekeler for 4 yards. 3rd and 10, Daniels rips one to Crowder for 12 yards, first down. Hand off to Robinson, he picks up 14 yards. Daniels looks to McLaurin, but ball is tipped and almost intercepted. 2nd and 10, Daniels tries to find Zaccheous but the coverage is to tight, incomplete. Pressure on Daniels finds Brown, but he drops the ball. Commanders attempt a field goal. It is good. Commanders on the boad. Lions 7, Commanders 3.
  • Lions Reynolds on the kickoff return for 20 yards. Goff with middle pass to LaPorta for 14 yards. Gkff to Gibbs for and he runs fro 33 yards. Goff looks to LaPorta he gets 6 yards. Under 2 minutes in the 1st quarter. Montgomery runs to the left but only gains 3 yards. 3rd and 1, Goff is pressured and fumbles. Luvu on the recovery.
  • Handoff to Robinson for 15 yards. No huddle, Robinson gets the ball and gains 5 yards. End of 1st quarter.

2nd Quarter

  • Daniels with a long pass to Brown for 42 yards. Daniels keeps the ball and runs to the left for 3 yards. Daniels keeps the ball again and scrambles to the right for 4 yards. Daniels zips to Zaccheous but the pass is incomplete. They go for it on 4th down, Daniels finds Ertz and its 1st and goal. Daniels throws to Bates but pass incomplete. 2nd and goal, Daniels scrambles but loses a yard. 3rd and goal, Daniels floats to McLaurin, but PENALTY on the play. Pass interference on Lions.
  • 1st and goal, hand off to Robinson but is stopped by a loss of a yard. Hand off to Robinson, up hte middle for a Commanders TOUCHDOWN. Commanders take the lead. Injury on the play. Extra point is good. Commanders 10, Lions 7.
  • Kickoff, Reynolds on the return for 28 yards. Deep pass to Williams is incomplete. Goff to A. St. Brown for 7 yards. Goff looking to A. St. Brown for 34 yards, but PENALTY Washington. 1st down Lions. Gibbs up the middle for 12 yards. Gibbs again left side no gain. Short pass to Raymond for 15 yards, 1st and goal. Goff under pressure, he finds LaPorta with the one handed catch for a Lions TOUCHDOWN. Lions attempt the extra point and its GOOD. Lions lead 14, Commanders 10.
  • Touchback on the kickoff. Commanders will take it on the 30 yard line. Daniels keep it and runs out the outside for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Daniels finds Brown for 8 yards. Daniels short pass to McLaurin and he takes it 59 yards for a Commanders TOUCHDOWN. They attempt the extra point and its GOOD. Commanders 17, Lions 14.
  • Lions Reynolds on the return gains 19 yards. PENALTY on the start of the play on Lions LaPorta, false start. Goff hand off to Gibbs gains 1 yard before being stopped by Commanders Fowler. Goff pass intended for Patrick is INTERCEPTED by Martin and runs it back for 40 yards for a Commanders TOUCHDOWN. They attempt the extra point. Commanders extend their lead 24-14.
  • Goff heads to the medical tent. Lions on the return for 26 yards. Teddy Bridgewater in for Goff, PENALTY at the start of the play on Lions Gibbs. Hand off to Gibbs, he runs up the middle for 14 yards. Bridgewater pass to Gibbs for 3 yards. Reverse play to Williams for 61 yards and Lions TOUCHDOWN. Extra point is good. Commanders still in the lead 24-21.
  • 4 minutes left in the 1st half. Touchback on the kickoff return. Commanders take it on 30. Daniels hand off to Ekeler for a run up the middle. Strong run picks up 8 yards. Daniels scrambles to the right for 15 yards. Hand off to Ekeler up the middle for 2 yards. Daniels with a deep right pass to Brown for 38 yards. Two-minute warning.
  • 1st and goal, Daniels keeps and slides up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and goal, Daniels scrambles can't find anyone open and throws the ball out of bounds. 3rd and goal, Daniels to Ertz for a TOUCHDOWN. Extra point attempt is GOOD. Commanders extend their lead 31-21.
  • Touchback on the kickoff return. They take the ball on the 30, Goff to St. Brown for 11 yards. Goff up the middle to LaPorta for 7 yards. Goff under pressure but finds Gibbs in the middle for 7 yards. Timeout on Lions. Play under booth review. Gibbs catch is overturned, incomplete pass. Lions timeout is given back to them.
  • Hand off to Gibbs up the middle for 11 yards. Goff pass intended for Gibbs is incomplete. Pass tipped by C. Ferrell. Goff to short pass to Gibbs for 12 yards. Lions take a timeout. :35 seconds left in the half. Commanders now call a timeout. Goff deep pass intended for Williams is INTERCEPTED by Sainristil. End of 2nd quarter.

HALFTIME: Commanders 31, Lions 21

3rd Quarter

  • Touchback on the kickoff to start the 3rd quarter. Commanders take it on the 30 yard line. Hand off to Robinson and he drives up the middle for 14 yards. Daniels on the keep being chased down Daniels loses 2 yards. Blitz, and Daniels runs to avoid it he gets 1 yard. 3rd and 11, Daniels rips it to Brown, but PENALTY on the play against Commanders for illegal shift. Commanders punt it away.
  • Lions take over on the 10 yard line. Hand off to Montgomery he breaks the tackle and gets 11 yards. Goff dirts it to LaPorta. 2nd and 10, Montgomery on the run for 8 yards. 3rd and 2, hand off again to Montgomery but he is stopped immediately lost 3 yards, but PENALTY on the play. Face mask against Washington.
  • Gibbs with the run to the left but lost a yard. Igbinoghene on the stop. Gibbs now to the right but only for a yard. Luvu on the stop. Goff to St. Brown and gains 19 yards. First down Lions. Fake to Gibbs, Goff to Gibbs, but the pass is short and incomplete.
  • 2nd and 10, Goff finds Gibbs, he runs for 11 yards. Pitch to Montgomery then a shovel to St. Brown and he gets 20 yards and a 1st and goal. Gibbs with the run but a loss of a yard. Stopped by Commanders Luvu. Gibbs up the middle and TOUCHDOWN for the Lions. Extra point attempt is GOOD. Commanders 31, Lions 28.
  • Touchback on the kickoff. Commanders take it on the 30 yard line. Daniels sees the blitz coming and scrambles. Blitz coming again and Daniels scrambles again for a gain of 14 yards. First down Commanders. Lions Melifonwu injured during the play.
  • Hand off to Robinson he picks up 5 yards. PENALTY on the Lions for unnecessary roughness. Daniels with a hand off to Robinson trying to get to the edge he gets 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Robinson gets it up the middle and for 2 yards. 3rd and 1, hnad off to Robinson and he gets the first down.
  • Quick throw to Brown, but no gain. He's pushed out of bounds. Daniels pass to Ekeler fighting is way inside the 20 yard line. He gets 5 yards. Daniels zips to Brown, shy of the first down. He gains 3 yards.
  • 4th and 2, Commanders are going for it, Daniels keeps the ball and gets the 2 yards. First down for the Commanders. Ekeler with the ball up the middle for 7 yards. Ekeler to the right for 1 yard. End of the 3rd quarter.

4th Quarter

  • Daniels to Ertz but he's stopped and pushed back for no gain. 4th and 2, PENALTY flag, Lions too many players on the field.
  • 1st and goal, Robinson on the run he gains 1 yard. Hand off to Robinson and its a TOUCHDOWN for the Commanders. Commanders attempt the extra point and its GOOD. Commanders extend the lead by 10. Commanders 38, Lions 28.
  • Raymond on the kickoff return he gains 21 yards. Montgomery up the middle for 5 yards. Goff up the middle to Patrick, he gains 22 yards before being pushed out of bounds. Williams with a deep pass intended for Gibbs is INTERCEPTED by Sainristil. PENALTY on the play against the Lions. Ineligible downfield pass. 1st down Commanders.
  • Daniels hand off to Ekeler with a big gain of 35 yards. Ekeler again but to the left for 5 yards. Daniels scramble and spins, short of the first down. Daniels hand off to McNichols, but flag on the play. PENALTY on Washington, delay of game.
  • McNichols on the carry, up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 12, blitz coming but Daniels finds Ertz for 10 yards. Shy of the first down. 3rd down, Daniels pass to McLaurin is thrown behind him. Incomplete pass. Daniels to McLaurin for 12 yards, 1st and goal. McNichols up the middle and stretches for the Commanders TOUCHDOWN. Commanders extend the lead further. They attempt the extra point and its GOOD. Commanders 45, Lions 28.
  • Touchback on the kickoff, Lions will take it on the 30 yard line. Goff looks to Gibbs, but throws it away. Goff to Gibbs, for 12 yards. No huddle, Goff to Raymond for 13 yards before going out of bounds.
  • Deep pass to St. Brown is incomplete. Goff short right to St. Brown for 13 yards. Next play, Goff spikes the ball. Goff pass incomplete to Gibbs. Short pass to Gibbs with a run to the left for 2 yards. 4th and 8, Lions attempt a kick and its GOOD. Still a two touchdown lead for the Commanders. Commanders 45, Lions 31.
  • Lions attempt and onside kick, its fumbled around until Commanders recover the ball. Commanders 1st and10, Robinson on the run for 2 yards. Robinson up the middle for 3 yards before stopped. Timeout Lions.
  • Daniels the a deep left pass to Bate. Bates gets 20 yards. Hand off to McNichols for 3 yards. Second timeout taken by the Lions. Daniels scrambles for 1 yard. Lions take their final timeout.
  • Robinson up the middle for 5 yards. 4th and 1 Commanders will attempt a field goal. Commmanders take a timeout. Gonzalez misses the kick.
  • Lions have the ball. Goff sacked -11 yards. Goff short pass in the middle to LaPorta for 11 yards. 3rd and 10, Goff shirt middle pass to Gibbs complete for 11 yards. Two-minute warning. Play under review by booth.
  • Play is reversed, Goff cant find no on and scrambles for the first down. Goff to LaPorta for 11 yards. Goff spikes the ball to stop the clock. 1:13 left in the game. Goff to Raymond for 9 yards. 3rd and 1, middle pass to A. St. Brown is incomplete. Goff to St. Brown for 13 yards. Goff spikes the ball to stop the clock. 2nd and 10, Goff is pressured, gets out of it and looks to Williams but is thrown behind him for an incomplete pass. Goff pass intended for Patrick INTERCEPTED by Chinn.

Daniels kneels to end the game. Commanders win!

Final: Commanders 45, Lions 31

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

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Joane Coley
JOANNE COLEY

Joanne Coley, from Prince George’s County, MD, is a communications professional passionate about storytelling and sports. She holds a bachelor’s in Communications from Kent State University and a Master’s in Communications/Public Relations from Southern New Hampshire University. Since 2018, she has served as Communications Manager at the Council of the Great City Schools. A foodie and traveler, Joanne is also a former state champion in high school shotput and standout athlete in softball.

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