The Detroit Lions’ magical regular-season run came to an end on Saturday night with a 45-31 upset loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round matchup. The team, which became the first in NFL history to lose a playoff game when having 300-plus pass and 200-plus rushing yards, was led by quarterback Jared Goff.
Goff had a tough game, throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble before briefly exiting due to a concussion. Despite his struggles, he finished with 313 yards and one touchdown. The Lions’ All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown also completed his post-game interviews while veteran safety Kerby Joseph offered him support.
Coach Dan Campbell was visibly emotional as he tried to process the loss, saying it was “hard” to put into words. He praised the team’s record-setting 15-win season and the players’ efforts, but acknowledged that they didn’t complement each other well on the field.
The Lions’ defense also struggled with key injuries, including starting cornerback Amik Robertson breaking his arm in the second quarter. Despite playing with 16 injured players, Campbell refused to make excuses for the loss, saying it only hurts to lose regardless of the team’s seeding.
The team had an impressive regular season, leading the league in scoring and winning the NFC North for the second year in a row. However, Campbell said he couldn’t reflect on those achievements now, as the focus should be on getting back from this tough loss. The Lions’ next step is to “get up, body’s beat,” and mentally stay locked in to bounce back from this defeat.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43474864/dan-campbell-detroit-lions-upset-washington-commanders