Nobody gave the Washington Commanders much hope of keeping up with the Detroit Lions. A rousing effort ensured they added another chapter to what's quickly becoming one of the most remarkable campaigns in franchise history.
The Commanders were more than a match for the Lions. They gained the advantage early on and never relinquished it. Dan Quinn had his men ready for battle. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury called a brilliant game. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. schemed up an opportunistic masterclass that resulted in no fewer than five turnovers.
Washington shocked the NFL world, not for the first time this season. The Commanders are now in the NFC Conference championship game, which sees them lock horns with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles for a place in the Super Bowl.
It was a collective effort from top to bottom. Everyone played a role. The higher-profile coaches and players got the attention, but this triumph doesn't happen without some outstanding contributions from those who go under the radar.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders' unsung heroes from their stunning Divisional Round triumph at the Lions. We'll start with rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman.
Commanders' unsung heroes from playoff win at the Lions
Brandon Coleman - Commanders OT
The Detroit Lions were under-strength defensively. However, coordinator Aaron Glenn has a creative approach that kept things ticking over nicely. One only had to examine how Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold floundered against his unit in Week 18 to see what problems could arise.
This piled additional pressure on the Washington Commanders' offensive line. Glenn blitzes more than most coordinators around the league. There was no room for passengers. Everyone had to step up in pursuit of another significant scalp on the road.
The microscope was on Brandon Coleman more than most. Washington's rookie left tackle had a stern test on his hands in the form of edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, who seemed confident he could cause havoc after taking on the Commanders once already this season when part of the Cleveland Browns.
Coleman rose to the challenge and then some. The third-round pick out of TCU gave up just one quarterback hurry from 37 pass-blocking snaps. He was a physical presence on running plays, displaying aggressiveness to the contact point and helping Washington's ground game flourish at Ford Field.
This was a major plus for the Commanders. Coleman got some significant responsibilities in Year 1 of his professional career. It's not been perfect — nobody expected it to be — but this was a tremendous pick by general manager Adam Peters that could become a core foundational piece with additional polish this offseason.
Anthony Lynn - Commanders RBs coach
The Washington Commanders' rushing attack went through some issues down the stretch. Not having veteran Austin Ekeler didn't help, but the productivity from the running backs earlier in the campaign wasn't evident despite Dan Quinn's squad making the postseason as the NFC's sixth seed.
Jayden Daniels' mobility wasn't going to suffice at the Detroit Lions. They needed the ground game to set a strong tone and make things happen. This would, in theory, give the rookie signal-caller more time in the pocket to get things done through the air.
This is exactly what happened. The Commanders dictated the tempo, controlled the clock, and had a well-balanced offense that gave the Lons endless complications throughout. Kliff Kingsbury took the plaudits and rightfully so, but one cannot underestimate the impact made by Anthony Lynn.
Quinn formed an exceptional coaching staff this offseason. He found the right blend of progressive thinking and experience to steer the Commanders through Year 1 of this comprehensive rebuild. Lynn's arrival was extremely important as a former head coach with proven motivational techniques.
The running backs coach deserves endless praise for the way he had this group ready to shine on the Saturday Night Football primetime stage. Something that's brought speculation linking Lynn with the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. - Commanders DE
Things didn't look too promising for Dorance Armstrong Jr. early in the contest. The defensive end had the daunting task of facing All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell right out of the gate. Not many get the better of him, which proved to be the case during the opening exchanges.
The Commanders got more from Armstrong as the game progressed. He started to generate pressure and maintained gap discipline against the run. Stopping the dynamic tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs was impossible. Making quarterback Jared Goff uncomfortable was much more feasible.
This is something Armstrong accomplished effectively. The free-agent signing's second-half performance was arguably his best since joining the Commanders. His two sacks, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and three tackles were an underrated yet important contribution to Washington's incredible success.
Armstrong's now set the bar for himself. The Commanders need the former Kansas star must perform up to or above this level at the Philadelphia Eagles if Washington wants to reach the Super Bowl. Nothing else will do in the Lincoln Financial Field pressure cooker.
Dan Quinn believed in Armstrong enough to sign him in free agency after their time together on the Dallas Cowboys. It's not been flawless, but the defensive end has repaid the faith over time.
Nick Bellore - Commanders LB
The Washington Commanders' decision to sign Nick Bellore this offseason went way under the radar. General manager Adam Peters made countless transactions to improve the team. The linebacker's arrival was barely spoken about compared to others.
It didn't take long for Bellore to become an important part of the team. He didn't get many reps at the defensive second level thanks to the presence of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. However, his exceptional special teams production was a tremendous asset to call upon.
Bellore received Pro Bowl and even All-Pro consideration in this discipline without quite doing enough to get the nod. That's a testament to how well he's performed and adjusted to a new environment. His performance at the Detroit Lions only improved his chances of an extended stay beyond the campaign.
The Commanders only punted once in this game, as did Detroit. Bellore was active in both plays. He even got some defensive reps to make an impression, making three key tackles to further enhance his influence.
This could be Bellore's final NFL season. He's approaching 36 years old and Father Time's grasp won't be too far away. But as he's proven this season, there's plenty of juice left in the tank.
Trent Scott - Commanders OL
As mentioned previously, the Commanders' offensive line came into this one ready. They were prepared for the challenge and matched Detroit's physicality from the first whistle. However, this unit received a body blow when Sam Cosmi went down through injury in the first half.
The concerns when Cosmi got folded up on Brian Robinson Jr.'s touchdown were glaring. He managed to walk off with the assistance of medical staff but didn't return. Washington got the worst news imaginable after the contest after discovering the former second-round pick out of Texas tore his ACL.
Cosmi faces a long road to recovery and could potentially miss the entire 2025 campaign depending on the issue's severity. The Commanders had to think quickly to avoid losing momentum. Trent Scott was the man chosen to fill this gaping void.
Scott's spent the majority of his career on the edge. He's not the most consistent, so this represented a gamble from the Commanders. Thankfully for the coaching staff, he rose to the challenge in a hostile environment.
There was a lot to like about the way Scott went about his business. He was never going to be as dominant as Cosmi, but the lineman held his own and helped keep Jayden Daniels' pocket clean for the most part.
That was a big positive for Scott. If he gets the nod again, doing the same against Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis won't be as simple.
