In a commanding performance, the Detroit Lions secured a 44-22 victory against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, as Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes and Jahmyr Gibbs scored three times. This game marked a significant bounce-back for the Lions, who refuse to lose consecutive games under head coach Dan Campbell.
The match took place in Landover, Maryland, with President Donald Trump in attendance, making him the first sitting U.S. president to watch a regular-season NFL game since 1978. The Lions (6-3) set the tone early, scoring the first 22 points and maintaining control throughout the contest.
The Commanders (3-7), who were missing key players including quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, suffered their fifth consecutive loss. This setback comes after a promising previous season where they finished 12-5 and advanced to the NFC Championship game.
With the defensive struggles continuing for Washington, they made changes by moving defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. from the booth to the sidelines, but it failed to yield positive results. Goff was efficient, completing 25 of 33 passes for 320 yards without any interceptions, throwing touchdowns to Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, who celebrated with a “Trump dance,” and Jameson Williams.
Gibbs contributed significantly with scoring runs of 13 and 43 yards, finishing with 142 rushing yards on 15 carries. Meanwhile, Williams recorded six receptions for 119 yards. This win allows the Lions to extend their impressive streak, having not lost two consecutive regular-season games since a five-game losing streak ended in October 2022.
Following a disappointing 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings the previous week, Campbell took a more hands-on approach, actively participating in play-calling and holding a play sheet during drives. After the departure of last season”s offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears, John Morton now oversees the offense in Detroit.
As the second half began, the Commanders found themselves trailing 32-10, continuing a trend of non-competitive games. Fans, including Trump, began to leave early, highlighting the team”s struggles. Daniels, who dislocated his left elbow in Week 9, missed his fourth game of the season. He was replaced by Marcus Mariota, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns while lacking key receiving options.
Washington faced additional challenges on defense, as Daron Payne was ejected for unnecessary roughness in the first half. The Lions also experienced injuries, with center Graham Glasgow leaving due to back issues and cornerback Terrion Arnold exiting with a concussion. The Commanders will next head to Spain to face the Miami Dolphins, while the Lions prepare for a challenging matchup against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
