The Washington Commanders reached their first NFC championship game in 33 years after a surprising victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.
After a dominant regular season in which they clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time, the Lions entered the playoffs as Super Bowl favorites ahead of the back-to-back winners, the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, on a dazzling night at Ford Field, Dan Campbell could only watch as his team fell at the first hurdle in a remarkable 45-31 loss to the Commanders, who were nearly double-digit underdogs heading into the divisional playoff.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels inspired another Washington victory for the ages in an all-time classic playoff game that ended 31-21 for the visitors at halftime.
Daniels, who has been a revelation in his first season in the NFL, completed 21 of his 30 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns in another masterful display.
Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also had two rushing touchdowns for 72 yards, while receiver Dyami Brown recorded six receptions for 98 yards.
The Washington Commanders sealed a surprising playoff victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday.
The upset victory means Washington can now prepare for its first appearance in the NFC Championship game since 1991, the year they last won the Super Bowl.
Prior to their wild card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders had not won an NFL playoff game since 2006. They had also failed to reach the postseason in each of the last three seasons, while they had only done so once. once in about a decade.
Now the nation's capital will dream of the most unlikely trip to the Super Bowl with Daniels at the helm.
If they make it that far, the 24-year-old will become the first rookie to start in the NFL's main event.
Meanwhile, for Detroit the wait continues for its first appearance in the Super Bowl.