On a cold Saturday night at Ford Field, what started as hope for the Detroit Lions quickly turned to heartbreak.
Visiting fans in Washington Commanders’ colors hijacked the Lions’ signature chant, mocking quarterback Jared Goff.
As the game neared its conclusion, their cheers shifted to their own rookie sensation, quarterback Jayden Daniels, chanting “M-V-P!” in celebration of his stellar performance.
This wasn’t the script anyone in Detroit imagined.
A season filled with promise and dominance came crashing down as the Lions suffered a stunning 45-31 defeat to the Commanders in the NFC divisional playoff. For Goff, the reality hit hard as he lingered on the bench after the final whistle, visibly shaken.
His position coach, Mark Brunell, sat with him briefly, offering words of encouragement before Goff made his way to the locker room, stopping only to congratulate Daniels.
Detroit’s offseason had arrived far sooner than anyone expected.
“A little bit numb,” Goff said afterward, struggling to articulate his emotions. “It’s tough. I’m so disappointed, not just for myself but for the fans.
This one hurts.” Repeating himself several times, he admitted it was hard to process the abrupt end to what had been a remarkable season.
The Lions, who had a 15-2 record and were widely viewed as Super Bowl favorites, had their playoff dreams dashed in a game defined by costly turnovers and errors.
Despite earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage, they faltered in front of a disappointed home crowd, many of whom began leaving midway through the fourth quarter.
Goff, tasked with explaining the collapse, struggled for answers. He was at the center of a nightmare performance, committing four turnovers that proved pivotal.
His final interception, with just 25 seconds left, sealed the Lions’ fate and marked the end of a historic season.
“It’s the worst feeling,” Goff said, finishing the game with 313 passing yards, one touchdown, and a season-low passer rating of 59.7. “I feel like I let my team down.”
The night had gone wrong from the start. Detroit’s injury-depleted defense couldn’t replicate the success it had in Week 18 against Minnesota, and Goff couldn’t find his rhythm.
His first costly mistake came in the opening quarter when a sack at Washington’s 25-yard line resulted in a fumble, derailing a promising drive.
That misstep was followed by an interception that Washington returned for a touchdown, putting the Lions in an early hole.
Though the Lions responded briefly—thanks to Jameson Williams’ explosive 61-yard run—they couldn’t sustain momentum.
Goff threw another interception targeting Williams in the end zone just before halftime, and the Commanders capitalized, extending their lead. By halftime, the Lions faced a double-digit deficit.
Goff was hard on himself after the game, admitting the turnovers weighed heavily on him.
“Three of those turnovers directly turned into points,” he said. “The pick-six, the fumble—those were avoidable mistakes.”
The Lions, known for their resilience all season, seemed poised for another comeback when Jahmyr Gibbs scored a third-quarter touchdown to cut the deficit to three.
But the Commanders’ relentless offense, led by Daniels, responded with a grueling 8 ½-minute drive, effectively sealing the game.
Adding to Detroit’s woes was a controversial play-call by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
On a trick play, Williams attempted a pass that was intercepted, further deflating the Lions’ hopes.
As the game slipped away, the realization of a missed opportunity began to sink in.
Head coach Dan Campbell fought back tears as he addressed reporters, expressing his disappointment for his players, who had poured everything into the season. Goff, too, shouldered responsibility, even as teammates defended him.
“I’ll ride with Jared Goff till the day I die,” said center Frank Ragnow. “He’s not just a great quarterback; he’s a great human being. I’ve got his back no matter what.”
The road ahead won’t be easy for Detroit. Despite validating his massive contract extension with a career-best season, Goff knows the sting of this loss will linger.
“This one’s going to eat at me for the entire offseason,” he said. “I wish I could’ve done more. I wish we all could’ve.”
The Lions’ future remains bright, with a roster built for sustained success.
However, potential changes loom, including the possible departure of Johnson as offensive coordinator.
For now, though, Goff and the Lions are left to reflect on what could have been.
“We had everything we wanted,” Goff said. “Home-field advantage. Amazing fans. And we let it slip away.”