What a win on Saturday night against the No. 1 seed in the NFC on the road in a hostile environment!
Washington entered the game, and while not everything was perfect (the defense allowed a whopping 201 rushing yards and three touchdowns), Joe Witt’s unit committed five turnovers and the offense scored 39 points. They piled on the board and won a convincing 45-31 victory. to advance to the NFC Championship Game next Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
The magical season continues…
Below are the studs and duds of my game, followed by some notes.
Stud:
Jayden Daniels – Daniels was really good, passing for 299 yards and two touchdowns and adding 51 yards on the ground. Most importantly, he was in charge of the football throughout the match. Even in a hostile environment, he remained calm and collected, never letting a moment become too big for him. He is a special talent having a special season!
Terry McLaurin – As he has done all year, Terry stepped up big and made some great plays on offense. He made a beautiful catch and run, bringing the ball home from 58 yards out on a quick screen.
Brian Robinson – Robinson has had a very tough time the past five weeks, but he improved against Detroit, rushing for 77 yards and two scores on 15 carries. He showed excellent vision and had a blast in the evening, looking like the Brian Robinson of old.
Dyami Brown – Brown led all Washington receivers with six receptions for 98 yards. He’s really improved over the last four weeks, including both playoff games, and is starting to look like a true NFL receiver.
Mike Sainristil – Sainristil has become a frequent addition to stud lists, and for good reason. The rookie also had a great game defensively, recording five tackles and two big interceptions, including one in the end zone against Jameson Williams just before halftime.
Jeremy Chinn – Chinn led the Commanders with 12 total tackles and recorded the game-ending interception from Goff. He has been very good lately and could be in line for a new contract in Washington, D.C.
Quan Martin – Martin has quietly put together a really great season. He made a big interception and returned it for a touchdown. This play set the tone for Washington’s defense.
Dorrance Armstrong – Armstrong was an impact on Washington’s defense all night, making three tackles, including two sacks (one a strip sack recovered by Frankie Lew) and two pressures. Recorded.
Brandon Coleman – The rookie had a pretty tough season at left tackle, but he played his part against the Lions and performed well in both pass protection and run blocking. It was one of his best games of the season.
unexploded:
This playoff edition of Studs and Duds does not have the DUDS name.
Note:
Frankie Leve made splash plays throughout the game, including a fumble recovery and a big hit on Goff during Martin’s interception return. Zach Ertz continues to show value against rookie Daniels in this offense. He had five receptions for 28 yards and one score. Austin Ekeler played a big role in the game both as a runner and as a receiver. He averaged 7.8 YPC on six attempts and caught four passes for 41 yards. Dante Fowler had a great TFL, QB hit, and two pressures in this game. Again, Daron Payne did not record any meaningful statistics. Unlike his opponent, John Allen put pressure on Goff, causing some rushing throws. I was surprised to see how well Trent Scott played at right guard in place of the injured Sam Cosmi. Marshon Lattimore had a pretty good game against Detroit’s receivers and didn’t seem to be fazed by his hamstring issues anymore. Bobby Wagner is the leader of this defense, but make no mistake about it – he is a liability in coverage. Torres Way only punted once in the game, going inside the 20 for 48 yards. We wish Sam Cosmi a speedy recovery after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
