NFL Playoff Outcomes on Saturday: Lions Fall to Commanders
Saturday marked the debut of the top seeds in the NFL playoffs, but the outcomes were quite different for each team.
After a wild-card round filled with little excitement, the opening of the divisional round saw the Kansas City Chiefs take a straightforward 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans. However, the Washington Commanders shocked everyone by defeating the top-seeded Detroit Lions 45-31, advancing to their first conference title game since 1991.
With two more games set for Sunday, let’s look at the key winners and losers from Saturday’s games:
Winners
Jayden Daniels
Throughout most of his rookie season, the No. 2 overall draft pick has been viewed as an exceptional talent. At this point, it’s fair to drop the qualifier. Daniels was calm under pressure against the Lions, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. His unique ability to remain composed allowed Washington’s offense to function smoothly, as they only punted once in the game, having not punted at all in their wild-card match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Early in the season, when it appeared Washington was exceeding expectations, it felt like they were playing with house money. Now, it’s clear that the quarterback—who may already be the best in the NFC—has become a game-changer for the team.
Travis Kelce
Any doubts about whether Kelce might be rusty after taking a break were quickly dispelled. His 117 yards receiving marked his best performance since last year’s AFC title game, with a standout 49-yard catch being a highlight in a season where he averaged just 8.5 yards per reception. When asked if he felt younger, Kelce joked, “22, baby, 22.” Moving on to.
Taylor Swift
The pop icon’s only other potential travel this season might be to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59, since she won’t have to leave Kansas City following her visit to Baltimore last year for the AFC title game. On Saturday, she enjoyed the game sitting next to WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Victory was truly sweet for everyone at Arrowhead.
Steve Spagnuolo’s Pass Rush
Any chance of a Texans comeback was swiftly thwarted by Spagnuolo’s formidable defense, which recorded eight sacks against C.J. Stroud. Defensive end George Karlaftis was the standout with three sacks, including a critical one on a fourth-and-10 in the final quarter. With cornerback Jaylen Watson back in the lineup, Spagnuolo’s defense is poised to wreak further havoc in upcoming games.
Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams
The location for the NFC championship game is now uncertain. The Eagles and Rams will settle matters on Sunday, but the route to the Super Bowl looks much less daunting for both teams than it did just a day earlier. Although Philadelphia fell to Washington in Week 16 with Jalen Hurts sidelined due to a concussion, they now have a better shot. The Rams also avoided a rematch with the team that eliminated them last season and handed them a loss in the first week. Both sides might not have imagined hosting a game with a chance to reach the Super Bowl on the line, but now that dream is within reach.
Teams with Coaching Vacancies
Good news for the six teams that are still looking for coaches: They won’t have to wait long for some of the top candidates they might have anticipated. With the Lions out of the playoffs, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are now free to be hired anytime, with interviews starting on Monday. They are both popular candidates and could attract interest from several teams. Now, organizations that have spent considerable time searching for coaches can ramp up their efforts.
Kliff Kingsbury
Bringing in the former Arizona Cardinals coach to aid in Daniels’ development raised eyebrows, especially since many feared Kingsbury’s approach would be outdated. However, after a game where his offense amassed 481 yards, he’s no longer seen as a joke. He has taken his time with job interviews, scheduling talks with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, making it clear that he isn’t in a hurry to make a move. If he doesn’t find a new position this season, he’ll likely be a frontrunner for a head coaching role in 2025.
Commanders’ Opportunistic Defense
While Daniels certainly deserves most of the credit for the Commanders’ victory, there are some concerns about a defense that allowed 521 total yards, including 201 on the ground. Nevertheless, the defense forced five turnovers and limited the Lions to converting only three of nine third-down attempts. When pressure was applied (two sacks and seven QB hits) and Jared Goff was forced into mistakes, the young secondary stepped up. Rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil recorded two interceptions, while second-year safety Quan Martin contributed with a 41-yard pick-six. Although it wasn’t flawless, Quinn’s influence is already evident in his first year.
TV Networks
CBS and Fox could hardly lose with their conference championship setups, but things are looking particularly favorable. CBS will enjoy the spotlight with the Chiefs and their immense fan appeal, featuring a top MVP candidate and compelling storylines no matter who their opponent is. Meanwhile, Fox gets to spotlight rising star Daniels and a fan base eager for a Super Bowl return.
Losers
NFL Officiating
While the latest officiating controversy should settle down by the time the Rams and Eagles take the field on Sunday, two questionable penalties called against Patrick Mahomes raised eyebrows. Some may argue that these instances reflect a pattern of favorable calls for the Chiefs, but it’s more accurate to categorize these as mistakes. However, the scrutiny of officiating will linger, especially if the Chiefs make another Super Bowl appearance.
Lions’ Defensive Resilience
Kudos to Aaron Glenn for managing a unit bearing significant injuries, with 12 out of 16 plays on injured reserve for Detroit. However, when the stakes were high, the Lions struggled to maintain their composure. Blitz packages failed to alter the outcome effectively.
The Lions faced challenges similar to their previous matchup against Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings in the Week 18 finale. Quarterback Daniels kept his cool amid pressure but the Lions struggled to stop the run, allowing 182 yards on 42 carries. The most troubling moment came during a crucial fourth-and-2 play when the defense was penalized for having 12 players on the field. This mistake resulted in a touchdown for Washington, which severely impacted any chances of a comeback.
Dan Campbell
Following the Lions’ collapse of a 17-point lead against the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s NFC title game, coach Dan Campbell admitted that returning to this level of competition would be “twice as hard next year.” This sentiment may still hold true for 2025, as the Lions seem poised to lose key players like Johnson and Glenn, with cornerback Carlton Davis and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler also likely heading into free agency. Although the NFC landscape is quite open and the Lions possess a strong foundation to build upon, Campbell is aware of how quickly a team can unravel, as evidenced by the 49ers’ struggles this season.
Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills
The victor of Sunday’s cold matchup will earn a trip to Arrowhead Stadium to challenge the Chiefs, who have cruised through the last month. Neither team anticipated the Texans causing an upset, but this scenario doesn’t inspire confidence for those aiming to dethrone the reigning champions.
Kris Boyd
While there were more urgent concerns—including typically reliable kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missing two kicks and having another blocked—the cornerback set a negative tone early. He celebrated a forced fumble on a kickoff by throwing his helmet, which led to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and even pushed Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross. Boyd later expressed regret, stating he was “too excited” and insisted there were no issues with Ross. Although head coach DeMeco Ryans did not witness the shove, he admonished Boyd for his “silly” penalty—a challenging way to enter free agency for a player of his caliber.
Texans’ trajectory
Houston failed to instill confidence with their regular-season closing performance, even if their wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers and their fight against the Chiefs could be viewed as reaching their peak this season. Given past optimism surrounding C.J. Stroud’s remarkable rookie year, it may feel disheartening for fans to realize that the team is still a step away from joining the elite ranks with the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens. Addressing the offensive line’s protection issues seems like a necessary first step. Nevertheless, with a record of 0-8 in divisional playoff games, the path to the next level appears unclear for this franchise.