The Takeaways, Divisional Round: Washington over Detroit
January 21, 2025
by Steve Thomas
Washington accomplished something on Saturday that they haven’t done since the 1991 season: earn the right to play in the NFC Championship game. That’s darn near unbelievable considering where they started this offseason and the epic-level trainwreck status of the franchise just two seasons ago. Regardless of what happens next Sunday, this team has reason to be very proud of itself and the bright future that’s ahead. Before we jump headlong into the hated Philadelphia Eagles and what Washington needs to do in order to reach Super Bowl VIX, I’d like to take this column to review what we learned from the Lions game. Which, after all, is the point of The Takeaways, which start below.
Washington rises to the occasion
This is the first game in a long time in which Washington avoided mistakes like turnovers and penalties, whereas the Lions completely failed in that endeavor. Four turnovers – specifically, 3 interceptions and a fumble – are the biggest reason why Washington was able to win this game. Washington converted three of the four turnovers into 21 points, while simultaneously preventing the Lions from scoring. That’s tough for any time to overcome, even the best team in the NFC during the regular season. The final score was 45 – 31, which is a 14 point margin. Washington, on the other hand, had no turnovers and mostly avoided costly penalties. I’d also like to add that, to their credit, Washington’s defense caused at least a couple of those turnovers. On the offensive side, Washington’s offense played their best game of the season, at the biggest moment of the season so far. They came through at nearly every turn. I certainly didn’t expect this kind of performance, and while a few probably did, I doubt the number was very high. Washington seems to be peaking at the right time.
Jayden Daniels gets his spotlight game
Daniels has had a season full of firsts for a rookie quarterback, but this game was a playoff game in front of a national audience. He completed 22 of 31 pass attempts, 71% completion percentage, for 299 yards, and 2 touchdowns, for a 122.9 quarterback rating, plus 51 yards rushing in 16 carries, for 3.2 yards per carry. His 299 passing yards in the middle of the pack in terms of his passing yardage per game, but his 122.9 quarterback rating was one of only three of his games over 120 this season. There’s more to it than that, though. Daniels made the correct read nearly every time and repeatedly created successful plays on third and fourth downs. Daniels is obviously the most important key to Washington’s offense excellence. Certainly, both Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown are talents in their own right, but only a handful of other NFL quarterbacks could make them look as good as they do right now. As a result of this game, I think both the NFL illuminati and the fans around the country will appreciate Daniels in a whole new light.
…. And so does Dyami Brown
Brown had 6 receptions for 98 yards in this game, which, aside from the lack of a touchdown, is better than his career game last week against Tampa Bay in the Wild Card game. Brown went from someone who appeared to have been a bust heading into the season to a player who all of a sudden looks like a serious starter who is capable of being a threat to an opposing defense. Brown made more than one quality play on Saturday and seems to have come into his own over the course of these last two playoff games. Brown’s resurgence is no doubt due at least in part to Daniels, of course, but the fact of the matter is that Brown is finally living up to his third round pick draft status.
Mike Sainristil proves he’s a legit starter, again
Saintristil was an absolute beast in the game, with two key interceptions and generally showing that he’s worthy of being a starter on the outside regardless of his height. In fact, considering that Marshon Lattimore has been something of a disappointment so far, certainly due in part to his hamstring injury, I’d argue that Saintristil might be the most effective corner on the team right now. That certainly was the case this week against the Lions. Time will tell if this performance lasts, but for right now, at least, Saintristil is a dangerous and effective defensive weapon.
Washington’s run defense is still terrible
It wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Washington’s run defense was atrocious in this game. Jahmyr Gibbs had 14 carries for 105 yards, which is 7.5 yards per carry with a long of 33, and Jameson Williams added to the pain with 1 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown. Washington’s defensive line simply wasn’t particularly good in this game. The fact that Gibbs was the focal-point of Detroit’s offensive attack shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone, but Washington wasn’t able to slow him down at all. The truth is that Washington was bailed out in a big way by all of the turnovers – if that hadn’t happened, the failures of the defensive front four in run defense who’ve most likely meant quite a bit more to the outcome of this game than it did.
As a result of this win, Washington earned the right to face their division rivals, the 14 – 3 Philadelphia Eagles, for the third time this season, with each team winning one of the first two contests. That’s clearly going to be a tough matchup, but anyone who thinks Washington doesn’t have a chance to win isn’t acknowledging reality. It will be a classic matchup, and we’ll have much more on this game throughout the week.