By Mummy Grace 
Lions Gear Up for Playoff Showdown with Washington Commanders and Rookie QB Jayden Daniels
The Detroit Lions are ready to take on the Washington Commanders this Saturday in the playoffs, and on paper, it looks like a favorable matchup. Washington’s rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, and a franchise just coming out of a two-decade identity crisis are the underdogs. But a deeper look shows a team with nothing to lose, and a rookie QB who’s already proven his mettle in the NFL.
The Lions should theoretically be feeling good about facing a first-year quarterback in Ford Field—after all, only 11 rookies in NFL history have won a playoff game, and only three have won two. But the Commanders have been nothing short of electric, riding a five-game win streak and coming off a 23-20 wild-card victory over Tampa Bay.
Daniels, the dual-threat quarterback out of LSU, has been leading the charge for Washington, and Lions coach Dan Campbell knows he’s a problem. “He’s dangerous. He poses a major threat,” Campbell said. “He doesn’t play like a rookie. He understands how to progress, he’s smart, and he’s got weapons around him.”
The Commanders are a solid team, but there’s a sense they’re still ahead of schedule. From a 4-13 season to being in the playoffs, they’ve exceeded expectations, and a lot of that is thanks to Daniels. His numbers speak for themselves: 3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and a combined 891 rushing yards. Plus, he’s been clutch, helping Washington stage multiple fourth-quarter comebacks.
This doesn’t mean the Lions are taking them lightly, though. They know Washington’s offense revolves around Daniels, and it’ll be up to Detroit’s defense to contain him, something that’s proven tricky for the Lions historically. Only Josh Allen of the Bills has really torn them up this season, but even then, the Lions know they have to be prepared.
It’s not all about Daniels, though. The Commanders also have Terry McLaurin at wide receiver and a defense ranked 30th against the run, which means Detroit’s offense, led by Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, will have chances to exploit weaknesses.
The key for the Lions will be keeping their cool against a high-energy Washington squad and making sure their defense doesn’t allow Daniels to run wild. Coach Campbell’s confident, saying, “We know we’ve got our hands full, but we’re going to have a plan in place, and our guys are going to execute it.”
The Lions may be facing a different kind of challenge, but if they play smart and stick to the plan, they should like their chances. Saturday’s game at Ford Field is bound to be a thrilling one.