Divisional Playoff – Commanders at Lions game recap: 3rd quarter summary – Just one 3rd quarter score; WAS 31, DET 28

Third Quarter

The difference in this game has been 3 turnovers by Jared Goff on 7 Detroit offensive drives. The Commanders are entering the second half with a double-digit lead, with the Washington offense having scored on 4 of the 5 drives that didn’t end in a kneeldown. No one has punted since the Lions did so on the first drive of the game. Washington has been winning on offense, defense (turnovers) and special teams so far.

To win this game, Detroit will need to stop the Commanders offense, which they haven’t been able to do since the botched QB sneak early in the 1st quarter. The two teams combined for over 600 yards of offense (and a defensive pick-6) in the first half.

The second half started with Detroit kicking off to Washington, who opened up the 3rd quarter with the ball at the 30-yard line following the touchback.

Brian Robinson picked up where he left off in the first half with a 14-yard run up the middle out of shotgun.

Two plays later, the Commanders faced 3rd & 11 at their own 43-yard line. On 3rd down, the Lions finally held tough and forced an incomplete pass and Tress Way’s first punt since the end of the regular season. Hopefully, this isn’t the first crack in the armor for Washington.

The ball was downed at the Lions 9-yard line.

After a first down, an incomplete pass and a short run, the Lions had 3rd & 2 at the 28-yard line. On 3rd down, Gibbs was buried in the backfield as Fowler and Luvu hit him deep, but a facemask penalty against Fowler — a bad call; the DE had the shoulder pad — the Lions were gifted a first down at the 43-yard line.

Two plays later, it was 3rd & 10 after Gibbs was stuffed on two runs, but on the money down, Goff hit St. Brown for a catch & run of 19 yards to the Washington 38-yard line.

The next two plays earned 31 yards to give the Lions 1st & goal at the 7-yard line.

On 2nd down, Gibbs powered up the middle to score.

After the PAT, the score stood at 31-28 Commanders.

Following the kickoff, the Commanders took the field again at their own 30-yard line.

Daniels opened up by beating a pair of blitzes for 15 yards for 1st & 10 at the 31-yard line.

Brian Robinson gained 5 yards on a run, but an unnecessary roughness call against the Lions for a hit on Daniels after he handed off the ball pushed the ball to the Lions 35-yard line, 1st & 10.

Robinson ran for 7, and then for 2 to bring up 3rd & 1 at the Detroit 26-yard line. The Commanders are in field goal range, but I doubt that will matter. On third down, they went to Robinson for the third straight play to get the 1st down.

Two plays later, on 3rd & 6 at the 20-yard line, Dyami Brown caught a pass just short of the line to gain, bringing up 4th & 2 at the 16 yard line. Lions DB Brian Branch was shaken up on the play.

Dan Quinn, of course, faced with taking the easy field goal or playing for a touchdown, left his offense on the field. On 4th down, with the Detroit fans screaming, teh Commanders faked the handoff from a jumbo package, and Daniels kept the ball for a scamper around the right end for an easy first down at the 13 yard line.

After a short pass reception and a short run by Austin Ekeler, time ran out on the 3rd quarter with Washington knocking at the door of the Lions end zone with 3rd & 3 at the 6-yard line.