Who would have thought Teddy Bridgewater and Marcus Mariota would face off in the NFC divisional round?
The former had just finished a state championship as head coach of his high school alma mater in January, but hadn't thrown a pass in 748 days in the National Football League.
But Bridgewater doesn't seem to be giving up.
The veteran signalman was briefly in the thick of the action Saturday night after Jared Goff took an ugly hit on the previous drive in the second quarter of the Lions' 45-31 loss to the Commanders.
Bridgewater's spell was very short, as the Lions reached the end zone in just three plays.
Lined up under center at Washington's 27-yard line with his team down by 10, Bridgewater hit Jahmil Gibbs for 3 yards on a quick-out route on his first passing play.
The play seemed to give head coach Dan Campbell enough confidence that he put together a play full of Detroit's signature tricks on the new down.
Bridgewater took the snap and handed the ball to Gibbs, who charged just a foot or two toward the line of scrimmage before delivering a pork rind to third-year receiver Jameson Williams, who was already running at full speed behind him. I threw it away.
Williams turned the corner at the end and never looked back.
So he never looked back until he was about 20 yards from the end zone. Williams' celebration started quite early..
He flipped it 61 yards into the end zone for a score. X/NFL
Bridgewater joined in the celebration in the end zone. Three plays, 73 yards, and suddenly it was a three-point game.
Until it isn't.
Jayden Daniels and company quickly returned to the field and stormed 70 yards in seven plays to push the lead back to 10 points.
Goff was able to get back into the game on the ensuing drive, leading the Lions 40 yards downfield as time expired in the first half, then throwing an interception while searching for Williams in the Commanders' end zone.
Washington went into the locker room with a 10-point lead at halftime and never looked back.
