As the great Bill Belichick once said, Tom Brady reiterated from the Fox broadcast booth Saturday night, “If you don't try not to lose, you can't win.”
Dan Campbell's Lions ended their season with a 45-31 loss to the Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round in the most important game.
The self-inflicted wounds came in the form of turnovers (five in total, including Jared Goff's two interceptions in the first half) and, perhaps even more painfully, unforced penalties, the worst of which were the most important of the game. It happened in one of the situations.
With Washington leading by three points and staring at a fourth-and-2 just five yards from Detroit's end zone at the start of the fourth quarter, the Lions sent 12 defenders onto the field.
Coaches and players alike were shouting and gesticulating from the sidelines, trying to get defenders' attention.
But at Ford Field, 70,000 enthusiastic fans screamed at the top of their lungs, giving their all for the Lions' long-desired victory in the elusive pursuit of their first-ever Super Bowl victory. But none of the 12 defenders got the message.
Yellow flags flew.
A too-many penalty forced the managers halfway to the goal line, but more importantly, it conceded another knockdown.
And two plays later, running back Brian Robinson Jr. punched a pork rind across the goal line and scored, extending Washington's lead to 10.
Things got even worse on the Lions' ensuing drive when receiver Jameson Williams caught a pitch behind the line of scrimmage and threw a wild pass himself.
Williams' double reverse was more of a hope and a prayer than a pass, thrown toward the sideline where a Lions receiver was surrounded by three Commanders defenders.
Freshman cornerback Mike Sainristil got the ball and Jayden Daniels and others took over at their own 34-yard line.
The Commanders' rookie quarterback led a precise eight-play, 66-yard drive downfield to extend the lead to 17 points.
This spread will remain even as Washington continues to claim an upset victory.
The coaches will face the winner of Sunday's Rams-Eagles matchup for a spot in the Super Bowl.
