DETROIT – In a game that included punches thrown, a President Trump mid-play interview, and a new offensive play-caller, the Detroit Lions crushed the Commanders in an eventful revenge game.
The Lions needed to get back on track this week after dropping a home game to the Vikings as heavy favorites.
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Jared Goff led the way with 319 passing yards and a trio of touchdowns. His leading receiver was Jameson Williams, who caught six balls for 119 yards and a score.
Both running backs looked much more effective. Jahmyr Gibbs gained 142 yards on 15 carries and scored twice. David Montgomery gained 71 yards on 15 carries.
Dan Campbell calling plays
The injury-plagued Commanders never stood a chance, as the Lions scored on all four first-half drives with head coach Dan Campbell apparently back in the play-calling mix.
Campbell helped orchestrate three touchdown drives, a two-point conversion, and a field goal to put the Lions up 25-10 at the break.
Nothing changed after halftime, as the offense continued to slice through Washington to the tune of 44 points.
Fans have been frustrated with first-year offensive coordinator John Morton in recent weeks, as the Lions lost two of their last three games and failed to surpass 24 points in all three.
Donald Trump interview
For the first time since 1978, a sitting United States president attended a regular-season NFL game.
President Donald Trump has been involved in the Commanders’ new stadium situation, and it’s also Veterans Day weekend. So he attended Sunday’s game in D.C.
FOX broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma asked the president about his high school playing career, his experience attending the game, and other topics. Trump briefly touched on the Lions once during the interview.
“I think Detroit’s been amazing,” Trump said. “That (Matthew Stafford) trade was such a great trade for both teams. For L.A. and Detroit.”
The Lions gave up a touchdown during Trump’s interview, but it didn’t matter to the outcome.
Personal fouls
Daron Payne was ejected from Sunday’s game after punching Amon-Ra St. Brown in the lower part of the helmet after a touchdown.
The personal foul gave the Lions half the distance to the goal on the point-after attempt, so the Lions went for two and succeeded.
Washington also picked up a personal foul penalty after the two-point conversion. And another in the second half for taunting.
It just felt like frustration was boiling over for a Washington team that made a deep playoff run a year ago and now finds itself at 3-7 this season. The injury to quarterback Jayden Daniels, who didn’t play Sunday, is a big reason for their struggles.
Lions get revenge
While this game didn’t mean nearly as much as the previous meeting, the Lions did avenge last season’s divisional round loss to the Commanders.
After going 15-2 and getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Lions got trounced by Daniels and the Commanders as heavy home favorites.
Detroit got back on track Sunday, though, coming off a disappointing home loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings.
The Lions improved to 6-3, tied with the Chicago Bears for second place in the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers, at 5-2-1, are in first. They host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.