It was a somber scene inside the Detroit Lions locker room Saturday night as players exited Ford Field, their playoff hopes dashed following a 45-31 upset loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round. After a magical 15-win regular season and the top seed in the NFC, the Lions’ season came to an abrupt and heartbreaking end, largely due to a five-turnover performance that proved too costly to overcome.
Head coach Dan Campbell struggled to contain his emotions while addressing the media postgame, reflecting on the record-setting season and the players who gave everything to the team. “We just didn’t play great, and I mentioned we didn’t complement each other, and that’s the same thing. At the end of the day, I didn’t have them ready,” Campbell said. “It’s hard to look at it.”
The Lions’ offensive production was impressive on paper, with the team becoming the first in NFL history to lose a playoff game after recording 300-plus passing yards and 200-plus rushing yards. However, turnovers and defensive lapses ultimately sealed their fate.
Quarterback Jared Goff had a particularly tough outing, throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble despite completing 23 of 40 passes for 313 yards and a touchdown. Goff briefly exited the game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion following a big hit during Commanders safety Quan Martin’s pick-six. After the game, Goff sat silently at his locker, head in hands, processing the loss. “I’m still kind of processing this. I’m going to have some hard nights coming up, unfortunately,” Goff said. “It’s hard. We had everything we wanted – home field advantage, incredible fans – and unfortunately, we just let it slip out of our hands.”
The game’s first half was a high-scoring battle, with the Lions trailing 28-18 at halftime in what became one of the highest-scoring playoff first halves in recent history. Yet, Detroit couldn’t find its rhythm. Early adversity struck when starting cornerback Amik Robertson suffered a broken arm on the defense’s second play. Robertson’s injury added to the Lions’ growing list of sidelined players, as they had 16 players on injured reserve entering the game.
Despite their injuries, the Lions fought hard. Rookie sensation Jahmyr Gibbs shined once again, scoring two touchdowns and tying NFL legend Gale Sayers’ record for most scrimmage touchdowns in a season (22) by a player 22 years old or younger. Meanwhile, running back David Montgomery returned from a three-game absence but was limited to seven carries for 28 yards.
The Lions entered the playoffs as the NFL’s highest-scoring team, averaging 33.2 points per game. They captured their second consecutive NFC North title, won all their road games for the first time in franchise history, and closed the regular season with an 11-game win streak. Yet, Campbell found it difficult to reflect on those achievements in the wake of such a devastating loss.
“No, it’s just not the time, man. It’s hard when you lose these games,” Campbell said, holding back tears. “What the players put into it, a lot of people don’t know. You have to get up, body’s beat to sh–, mentally stay locked in, and do those things for such a long season.”
For a team that achieved so much, the loss stings deeply. While the Lions’ journey this season was historic, their dreams of a Super Bowl run will have to wait another year.