The Detroit Lions' hopes of advancing to the Super Bowl were dashed in a disappointing playoff performance against the Washington Commanders, where they fell 45-31 despite entering the game as the NFC's top seed. Coach Dan Campbell lamented the team's inability to complement each other, highlighting the five turnovers that plagued the Lions throughout the match, with quarterback Jared Goff taking the brunt of the blame for three interceptions and a fumble.

Despite the Lions' offense showing moments of promise, their defense struggled significantly, yielding 481 total yards, including 182 on the ground. Their injury-riddled squad lost key players like Aidan Hutchinson and Amik Robertson during the game, further compounding their challenges on both sides of the ball. The Lions were unable to capitalize on crucial opportunities, including a pivotal fourth down stop that went awry due to a penalty.