Lions TE Sam LaPorta scored an electric touchdown for Detroit, but Washington also had plenty of tricks up its sleeve. Follow along!
The Detroit Lions were breathing a sigh of relief after winning in Week 18 to get the first-round bye, and after the Rams’ emphatic win over the Vikings, Dan Campbell and crew are not just happy for the extra rest. Avoiding an early bump in the road when you can is usually beneficial, and the Lions will look to take advantage of that against the emerging Washington Commanders. Washington entered the season with lower expectations, but now arrives in the divisional round with the presumptive NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in Jayden Daniels and coming off a road win over the Buccaneers in the wild-card round — the only road team to win in the first weekend of the playoffs.
For Detroit, David Montgomery is expected back in the lineup after missing the final three games of the regular season with a knee injury — he returned to practice on Tuesday. Montgomery rushed for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns in his 14 games this season and would reunited the “Sonic and Knuckles” tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs in the Detroit backfield. That duo powered the Lions to finish sixth in the NFL in rushing this season and second in the league in rushing touchdowns.
With a win, Washington would make it to the NFC championship game for the first time since their Super Bowl win at the end of the 1991 season.
How to watch Commanders vs. Lions: NFC divisional playoff
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Ford Field | Detroit
TV Channel: Fox
Streaming: Fox Sports App, Fubo
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:22 PM ESTJack Baer
A false start pushes the Commanders to 3rd-and-14, but Jamison Crowder gets them one yard short of the first down. They’re going for it on fourth down.
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM ESTJack Baer
There’s a heck of a catch-and-run for Austin Ekeler, who spins to break a tackle and takes it 24 yards, into Lions territory.
Austin Ekeler breaks off the first big play of the game
📺: #WASvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/FtXh4Sha7V— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM ESTJack Baer
Robertson is being helped to the locker room. Looks like he took some friendly fire from Lions LB Jack Campbell.
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM ESTJack Baer
First play from scrimmage and I couldn’t hear anything besides the LOUD crowd.
Good news is Jayden Daniels doesn’t care about your noise. Two completions and a first down off the bat =.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM ESTJack Baer
Lions starting cornerback Amik Robertson is down with an injury after a Commanders first down. The Lions have already weathered too many defensive injuries
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM ESTJack Baer
Great first drive for the Commanders defense. Not only stopped the run but forced 3rd and long, which puts Jared Goff where the Lions don’t want him (empty, true dropback).
Keep that going and Goff could give them one.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM ESTJack Baer
And that’s a three-and-out for the Lions on their first drive, wasting a field-position gift. The Commanders offense will take over at their own 20
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM ESTJack Baer
In his first game since Dec. 15, David Montgomery gets the first snap and carry at running back for the Lions.
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM ESTJack Baer
The Commanders’ kickoff goes out of bounds and the Lions will start on their own 40-yard line. Not exactly how an underdog wants to start.
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM ESTJack Baer
Detroit’s crowd and stadium ops are getting strong reviews from the Washington writers.
Probably the best playoff atmosphere I’ve ever been around. Unreal crowd.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 19, 2025
Ford Field is one of the coolest places to watch a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/ltwroorRtI
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM ESTJack Baer
David Montgomery is back. pic.twitter.com/Zcd3GydSBB
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM ESTJack Baer
It’s electric in Detroit! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ItTm7OU6Z2
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM ESTJack Baer
Detroit is feeling it.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM ESTJack Baer
DIFFERENT.
Amon-Ra St. Brown wearing a shirt of himself pregame 💪
(📸: @Lions) pic.twitter.com/ijtAJQMSSV
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 18, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM ESTIan Casselberry
Jeff Daniels’ Commanders-Lions pick
Michigan native Jeff Daniels might be biased, but he picked the Lions to win, 50–7.
Jeff Daniels!! 😂
He gives his prediction for tonight’s game between the Commanders and Lions!! pic.twitter.com/zgcxj0z5HX
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 19, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM ESTJack Baer
Lions inactives
#WASvsDET inactives presented by Henry Ford Health pic.twitter.com/vfaKVjmKBO
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 18, 2025
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Sat, January 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM ESTJack Baer
Commanders inactives
#WASvsDET inactives
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 18, 2025