The Washington Commanders are traveling to Detroit to take on the Lions in the Divisional round of the playoffs this weekend. Here are three keys to them advancing to the NFC Championship.
1. Establish the run.
The Commanders need to have a similar game plan to the one they had against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, meaning they must control the time of possession to give themselves a chance against the Lions. They did that against the Buccaneers despite rushing for 82 yards on 33 carries. That combination of stats isn't likely to happen again, so it's imperative that Washington find some traction on the ground.
In fairness to Washington and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, it wasn't for a lack of trying against the Buccaneers. They used some uncharacteristic looks like having Marcus Mariota under center, and they even called some speed option plays in the red zone. Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey are difficult matchups for anyone, though, and the two played a role in keeping Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler in check.
The Lions also have a stout defensive front that ranked fifth against the run in the regular season, but that number comes with some context. For starters, the Lions have rarely played in a deficit, leading to teams abandoning the run to catch up. The Lions are also severely banged up at the defensive line, with seven players on Injured Reserve. The current personnel plays hard, but there will still be some opportunities for Washington to establish the run.
While dynamic with the ball, Jayden Daniels can't carry the load on the ground the way he's had to do for the last month. The Commanders will need more from the other parts of their run game, and that includes getting Brian Robinson some open lanes.
2. Don't be fooled on defense.
The Lions have one of the most talented offenses in the league, but players like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs aren't what makes the unit dangerous. It's actually their ability to fool defenses and put them in unwinnable positions.
"They test your discipline," said defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. "I think [Detroit Lions offensive coordinator] Ben [Johnson] does a really nice job of understanding coverages. He understands horizontal spacing as well as vertical spacing. He understands the responsibility of every player, and he's going to test the discipline of those players and other coverage."
Part of the Lions' offensive success is that they know how to get their weapons open and in space. While Jared Goff has had a career year, he isn't airing it out often, as the Lions completed air yards rank 15th in the NFL. However, the Lions lead the league in yards after the catch with 2,669.
The Lions will try to fool the Commanders as often as possible with motion, fakes, and probably a few trick plays on Saturday. It'll be on the Commanders' defense to stay disciplined when those moments come around.
"You have to be where you're supposed to be and let your eyes be true," Whitt said. "And if you don't, he's going to take advantage of it."
3. Don't be bothered by the atmosphere.
Like the Commanders, the Lions have had a magical season that feels like decades in the making. They can host the NFC Championship game and make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
So, it's going to be loud at Ford Field this weekend. The Lions' fans will be cheering their teams on and doing whatever they can to get the Commanders off their game. It'll be up to the players to remain calm in that environment.
"Everybody puts the implications and makes it bigger than what it really is," Daniels said. "But at the end of the day, it's still the game. You got to go out there and stick to your routine, stick to who you are, the process of what got you there, and go out there and just play football."
It's become part of Daniels' skill set to stay cool under pressure. It's why he completed all eight of his passes on fourth down during the regular season and why he was able to lead the Commanders on a game-winning drive against the Buccaneers. That attitude is infectious for the rest of the team, and because of that, they've been able to execute plays in the most significant moments.
The Lions and their fans will test that in a way the Commanders haven't experienced all season, but if their previous 18 games are any indication, they should be just fine.
"I think you kind of just get used to it, but obviously, it's something new to me, and I heard Detroit is very electric, so I'm excited for them, for their fans to come out to bring some juice because I know it's a very passionate fan base and, obviously, rightfully so with the team that they're having. So, I know it's going to be loud in there. So, we got to go out there and prepare for the crowd noise."
