The Detroit Lions’ playoff hopes were unexpectedly dashed on Saturday night, as they fell to the Washington Commanders 45-31 in the NFC Divisional Round. The top-seeded Lions were favored to win, but their defense faltered, and quarterback Jared Goff had an off night. Goff completed 23 of 40 passes for 313 yards, a touchdown, three interceptions, and a fumble. This marked his first game with four or more turnovers since a Week 10 loss to the Houston Texans, where he threw five interceptions.
Despite a strong performance from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, the Lions’ offense struggled to find rhythm against the Commanders’ defense, which pressured Goff throughout the game with two sacks and seven quarterback hits. Concerns over Goff’s health arose in the second quarter when he was hit hard by linebacker Frankie Luvu after throwing an interception, which was returned for a touchdown. Goff briefly left the game while backup Teddy Bridgewater stepped in, but he returned after a few plays and finished the game.
On Monday, Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network reported that Goff was not placed in the concussion protocol following the game, which was a relief for Lions fans who feared the worst after the hit. While the outcome of the game was disappointing, it was positive that Goff was cleared to continue playing. Looking ahead, there could be significant changes to the Lions’ coaching staff in the offseason, as they failed to meet expectations after a strong regular season.
