This year, all that’s left is sadness for the Jared Goff and Co.. Another heartbreak for not making it to the Super Bowl. After playing spectacularly all year, the hard truth is the Lions remain the only NFC team to never reach the Super Bowl. And who crushed their hopes this time? A team led by a rookie. While it’s a huge year for Jayden Daniels and the Commanders, you can’t help but feel sad for the Lions. So many hearts broke this Saturday, and you could see it all over the faces of those rooting for the Detroit squad.

While it was all smiles and celebration for the Commanders and their fans, the Lions were all in tears. Lions QB Jared Goff was feeling the weight of it all, and his disappointment was pretty obvious on his face. When talking to the media after the game, Goff said, “Had I played better, do we win? Possibly, you know. And that’s the part that’ll eat me alive for the whole offseason.” The hopes were high for Detroit in this game. Most bets were placed against the Commanders. But hey, that’s the NFL for you.

The Lions came out swinging in the first quarter, looking like they might pull off the upset. But the Commanders weren’t having any of it. From the get-go, they made it clear that they weren’t here to lose. By the second quarter, they’d snatched the lead by three points, and it was like, ‘Alright, here we go.‘ The Lions weren’t backing down, though, taking the lead right back, making it a back-and-forth battle that had the whole stadium on edge. Both teams were throwing punches, and you could feel the tension rise with every play.

But by the 4th quarter, the vibe shifted. You just knew the Commanders were taking this one home, and the Lions’ hopes were slipping away. It felt like the Commanders had finally secured the win, and that was pretty much it for the Lions‘ Super Bowl dreams this year.

Jared Goff and Co. let the ‘Lions Nation’ down in the crucial game

The Lions had a real shot at breaking that Super Bowl curse, but they couldn’t seal the deal. Jared Goff, who had been steady for the most part this season, didn’t show up in the way his team needed him to. The QB’s performance is raising a lot of questions after he threw three interceptions, a rare slip-up in a season full of promise. Out of those three, one was a pick-six, taken back for a touchdown, and another came on Detroit’s final drive of the first half in the end zone. To make matters worse, he also lost a fumble. Those mistakes were a huge blow, especially in such a crucial game.

Despite throwing for 313 yards and a touchdown, the turnovers overshadowed his effort. On the ground, Jahmyr Gibbs did his part, scoring two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. The real issue came on defense, as they struggled to contain Washington’s offense. Rookie Jayden Daniels, racked up 299 yards and scored two TDs. Honestly, Jayden’s been balling out this season, and he wasn’t about to let the Lions get in his way. Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. played a big part in taking down the top NFC North team. The 25-year-old punched in two touchdowns; one in the second quarter to give his team the lead, and another in the fourth to wrap things up.

With that, the Commanders are straight up in the conference championship, a picture that not many saw coming. For Detroit, it’s another year of ‘what could’ve been,’ but hey, at least they’ve got the pieces to bounce back. Still, Lions Nation is going to feel this one for a while. But for now, the wait continues.