by Tony Fiorello
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 05: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions while playing the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 05, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Welcome to the 2024 NFL season’s Divisional Round Weekend. Here at Buffalo Sports Page we will attempt to inform and educate our readers about the upcoming playoff games and what each team might do to emerge victorious.
One of the NFC’s divisional round games will take place at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as the Washington Commanders will face the Detroit Lions. Here’s what you should know:
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 08: Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a pass to Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during the second quarter of an NFL regular season football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions on September 8, 2024 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LIONS’ OFFENSE PRODUCTIVE
Before the 2021 NFL season, general manager Brad Holmes – originally from the Los Angeles Rams – sought to instill toughness in his team by hiring Dan Campbell as Detroit’s head coach. Campbell, an 11-year NFL veteran and former tight end (not to mention an ex-Lion), has helped the Motor City’s pro franchise make progress in that area and in results on the field, as evidenced last year by the Lions winning their division for the first time in 30 years and winning a playoff game for the first time since 1991 (and just their second playoff victory of the Super Bowl era). This season they won 15 games, an organizational high.
Quarterback Jared Goff, the first overall pick in the 2016 draft who Holmes brought to Detroit in exchange for Matthew Stafford, is very good when it comes to the timing and rhythm portion of the passing game. He has good synchronicity with his receivers, is accurate, intelligent and throws a better deep ball than people realize. However, when under pressure Goff’s footwork can get a bit sloppy and isn’t always at ease when bodies are flying around him – especially when defenders are rushing up the middle.
Goff is also sometimes a tad late when it comes to exploiting coverages. According to SB Nation’s Doug Farrar, “(Goff) throws with anticipation to a degree, but he’s often throwing guys open when they’re already open, meaning that he’s throwing them closed and allowing defensive backs to jump and pick routes. The problem gets worse when his receivers are challenged.”
Fortunately for Goff – who has joined Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner and Brett Favre as the only signal callers to reach a conference championship game with multiple teams since 2000 – he executes an offensive scheme that’s similar to the one he had with the Rams. It’s one with plenty of under-center play-action (no team uses more under-center passes or play-action more than Detroit), shifts, motions, high-low concepts and downfield option routes with defined reads.
Goff has a talented cadre of pass-catchers. Amon-Ra St. Brown has cemented himself as one of the game’s better receivers while sharing targets with deep threat Jameson Williams, former Denver Bronco Tim Patrick and journeyman Allen Robinson. Sam LaPorta, one of the league’s most physically gifted players at his position, has taken over as the starting tight end following the trade of T.J. Hockenson two years ago to the Minnesota Vikings and he and backup Brock Wright have been part of one of the highest usages of “12” personnel (one back, two tight ends) in the league.
Two years after employing a solid running back tandem in Jamall Williams and De’Andre Swift, Detroit let the pair walk in free agency and promptly replaced them with ex-Chicago Bear David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. The two haven’t missed a beat – they’re frequently used on the field at the same time (also known as a “pony” package) and are a classic thunder-and-lightning combination. Montgomery runs with power and has a nose for the end zone while Gibbs has been compared to the New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Kamara. Quick and explosive with good balance and receiving skills, Gibbs complements Montgomery well, as they helped Detroit become the only team in the NFL with two backs who scored at least 10 rushing touchdowns apiece in 2023.
Gibbs and Montgomery run behind an offensive line that has executed mostly outside/wide zone runs, and while that is the team’s foundational run Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will also use power plays, traps, sweeps, counters, inside zone, “duo” and pin and pulls as changeup tactics and will throw in some misdirection concepts like end-arounds and reverses as well. It’s anchored by three former first round picks in Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell, and guards Kevin Zeitler (out for Saturday’s game) and Graham Glasgow complete one of the NFL’s best line combinations.
For the third consecutive year, the Lions are fielding a top-five offense in pro football. First in scoring (and the fourth-highest scoring team of all time), second in red zone efficiency, passing and total yards and sixth in rushing, Detroit has certainly been dangerous.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 05: Brian Branch #32 of the Detroit Lions waits for a snap in the fourth quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 05, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
DETROIT’S DEFENSE AGGRESSIVE
For three years, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn – a former NFL cornerback for 15 seasons – had his hands full in trying to turn around this unit. The Lions’ defense didn’t perform consistently and 2023 was no exception as Detroit ended the season 19th in total defense, 27th against the pass, 23rd in points allowed and sacks and 18th in takeaways, but were second against the run.
This season has finally seen Glenn enjoy the fruits of his labor to a degree. Seventh in points allowed, fifth versus the run, 20th in total yards given up and tied for 10th in takeaways, Glenn’s charges – who execute well-designed pressure schemes (especially overload concepts) – have used one of the highest percentages of man coverage and blitzes.
One crucial area is where the Lions struggle to defend – the passing game. Third-last, it’s the result of numerous injuries in Motown – names such as Aidan Hutchinson, a product of the nearby University of Michigan, who performed well in his first two NFL seasons with a combined 21 sacks (averaging 10.5 a year), Alim McNeill, Mekhi Wingo, Marcus Davenport, John Cominsky, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Carlton Davis and Emmanuel Moseley have all missed time due to various ailments. Hutchinson’s injury has particularly hurt them as their pass rush has struggled without him in the lineup.
Hutchinson may not return unless Detroit reaches the Super Bowl, prompting the team to trade for former All-Pro Za’Darius Smith. He, Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzuriko and DJ Reader are the team’s current starters on the front four with Myles Adams, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Pat O’Connor and Brodric Martin all getting playing time as well.
Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone make up a solid run-stopping pair at linebacker with Ben Niemann and Kwon Alexander providing depth. On the back end, Detroit is held down by Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson at cornerback. Brian Branch, one of the game’s rangiest and smartest safeties who can also play in the slot, is also a starter along with Kerby Joseph – a very good centerfielder – and Ifeatu Melifonwu.
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 01: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass to Terry McLaurin #17 in the first quarter of a game against the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON HAS SOME OFFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS
Change is the theme in the nation’s capital, as new ownership (Josh Harris), a first-year general manager (Adam Peters), a fresh face at head coach (Dan Quinn) and a different offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) have taken charge of the Washington Commanders and led them to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Kingsbury’s system, which borrows heavily from the Air Raid system, leans towards the usage of “10” and “11” personnel and two-tight end sets. He also likes to use three-by-one sets (three wide receivers on one side and another wideout or a tight end on the other) along with some shifts and motion to help his quarterbacks decipher coverages in the passing game. They’ve also incorporated some no-huddle and empty packages recently.
After multiple seasons in which the Commanders had six different starters take turns under center (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, Sam Howell and the late Dwayne Haskins), the organization decided to start over and draft Jayden Daniels from LSU. Daniels is accurate, intelligent and throws a good deep ball while possessing poise and vision.
Daniels also has athleticism and mobility, and Washington uses a lot of designed runs like zone reads, run-pass options, quarterback sweeps and lead draws to take advantage of his ability to make people miss in space. He’s responded with the most rushing yards ever by a rookie quarterback.
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is a nuanced route runner and has shown the ability to line up outside the numbers and in the slot. He is supplemented in the form of Dyami Brown, K.J. Osborn, Jamison Crowder, Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus and the injured Noah Brown. Tight end Zach Ertz has been rejuvenated in D.C. while posting his best numbers in three years.
Running back Austin Ekeler, who is a shifty ball-carrier and a threat as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and while split out, and the powerful Brian Robinson operate behind an offensive line that doesn’t have a lot of household names. Ex-Chief Andrew Wylie joins Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Tyer Bladasz and Sam Cosmi.
Washington has had surprising success on this side of the ball. They ended 2024 seventh in total yards, 17th in passing, third in rushing and fifth in scoring.
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 05: Bobby Wagner #54 of the Washington Commanders lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
DEFENSE LEARNING A NEW SCHEME
In the past, Quinn – a former defensive coordinator in Seattle and Dallas and a head coach in Atlanta – was a strong proponent of the Cover Three scheme (deep zone coverage on the outside with a safety in the box and a deep safety patrolling centerfield) but he has had excellent results while mixing in more single-high man coverages (Cover One) in recent years. He’ll also throw in some Cover Two zone looks on third down from time to time.
The Commanders’ defensive line has two building blocks with Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen (currently injured), veterans Dante Fowler, Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell and rookie Jer’Zhan Newton. Washington can win at the line of scrimmage with stunts, slants and twists to create confusion for rival offensive lines.
11-time All-Pro Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are the team’s linebackers. Four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore, former Miami Dolphins first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene, Mike Sainristil, Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin make up Washington’s secondary.
The Commanders finished 2024 13th in total yards, third against the pass, tied for 11th in sacks and 18th in points surrendered. But they were third-last versus the run and tied for just 20th in takeaways.
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