The Detroit Lions are on a high, now considered Super Bowl favorites for the first time in their history.
Detroit will take on the Washington Commanders on Saturday night in the divisional round as the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a position earned after setting a franchise-record with 15 wins.
The Lions (15-2) are favored by more than a touchdown over Washington (13-5) according to BetMGM Sportsbook, marking the first step in their pursuit of an NFL championship that has eluded them since 1957.
“We were the hunters, now we’re the hunted in the lions’ den,” said All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph.
Detroit has the highest odds to win the Lombardi Trophy, according to BetMGM, ahead of the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Buffalo.
Coach Dan Campbell, however, understands this is just the next phase of his team’s journey.
“We’ve been great, we’ve been bad, we’ve been a joke, now we’re great,” said Campbell, whose record was 4-18-1 over a year into his four-year tenure. “It’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. This is nothing new for me, the coaches, or the players. We’re in the circus, and it’s time to perform.”
Meanwhile, Washington has little to lose.
With a new quarterback, coach, and general manager, the Commanders were expected to win only about six games.
Jayden Daniels had other plans.
He set the record for most comeback wins in the regular season and playoffs by an NFL quarterback trailing in the fourth quarter since the 1950 season, helping Washington rally from late deficits to win six games, including last week’s wild-card victory over Tampa Bay—Washington’s first playoff win in 19 years.
Daniels became the first rookie in NFL history to lead his team in both rushing and passing yards in a playoff victory and the first rookie quarterback to throw at least two touchdown passes in a road playoff win since Washington’s Sammy Baugh threw three TDs in the 1937 NFL title game.
The Commanders believe they should not be underestimated now.
“Before the season even started, they wrote us off, and they did it repeatedly throughout the season,” said running back Brian Robinson Jr. “We see that. We feel that. We want to keep proving people wrong and show who we really are.”
GOING FOR IT
Both coaches Campbell and Commanders Coach Dan Quinn are known for their aggressive and effective fourth-down calls.
Detroit converted 22 of 33 fourth-down attempts, while Washington succeeded on 20 of 23 during the regular season, an 87% success rate—the best in the NFL since 2000.
The Lions have chosen to keep their offense on the field rather than attempt field goals or punts, a league-high 151 times on fourth down over the last four seasons. Campbell is the only coach in the NFL to attempt that many fourth downs in a four-year span since at least 1991.