In the NFC Championship Game for the 1991 season, the Washington Redskins defeated the Detroit Lions 41-10. Neither franchise made it back to that stage of the postseason until last season, when the Lions lost to the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the NFC Championship Game.

It’s taken Washington one more year to get back than it did Detroit. Now called the Commanders, Washington upended the Lions 45-31 on Saturday night to advance to the NFC title contest.

Detroit had the conference’s best record at 15-2 in the regular season and came into Saturday night’s game off a first-round bye earned as the NFC’s top seed. But the Commanders turned the tables on the NFL’s highest-scoring team.

The teams combined for 42 points in the second quarter and 1,002 yards in the game. Although the Lions outgained Washington 521-481 in yardage, Detroit lost five turnovers, including an interception in the end zone and a 40-yard pick-six by safety Quan Martin as the Commanders took a 24-14 lead with 5:25 left in the first half.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 22-of-31 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 51 yards on 16 carries for Washington. Daniels completed a pass to Terry McLaurin behind the line of scrimmage, and the wide receiver took it 58 yards for a touchdown to put Washington in front 17-14 with 6:23 left in the first half. The Commanders never trailed again and scored touchdowns on 70-yard drives both times that Detroit closed the lead to three points.

Former Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson scored on a 2-yard run as Washington took a 10-7 lead with 10:55 left in the first half and a 1-yard run as the Commanders increased their lead to 38-28 with 13:29 to play.

The Lions lost despite 175 yards from scrimmage by former Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and caught six passes for 70 yards. Gibbs scored the game’s opening points on a 1-yard run with 7:36 left in the first quarter and scored on an 8-yard run as Detroit cut Washington’s lead to 31-28 with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter.

Former Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams was involved in two trick plays. One worked, but one didn’t, and it crippled the Lions’ comeback chances.

Williams ran 61 yards on a reverse for a touchdown that trimmed Washington’s lead to 24-21 with 4:01 to play.

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With Detroit trailing 38-28, Williams’ first NFL pass was intercepted at the Washington 34-yard line with 12:04 to play. The Commanders responded by driving for a touchdown to take a 17-point lead with 7:31 remaining.

A 1,000-yard receiver in the regular season, Williams had only one other touch in the game – a 19-yard reception.

In addition to Gibbs, Robinson and Williams, eight more players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Washington-Detroit game:

• Jonathan Allen (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for Washington. Allen made one tackle and registered two quarterback hits.
• Terrion Arnold (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Lions. Arnold made six tackles.
• Brian Branch (Alabama) started at safety for the Lions. Branch made 11 tackles, recorded two tackles for loss and forced one fumble, which Washington recovered.
• Lions cornerback Carlton Davis (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
• Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) started at slot corner for Washington. Igbinoghene made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
• Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
• Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) started at defensive tackle for Washington. Payne registered one quarterback hit.
• Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) did not record any stats.
• Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) did not record any stats.
• Za’Darius Smith (Greenville) started at defensive end for the Lions. Smith broke up one pass.

Washington will play for a spot in Super Bowl LIX at 2 p.m. CST Jan. 26. In the NFC Championship Game, the Commanders will be on the road against the winner of the Los Angeles Rams-Philadelphia Eagles game, which kicks off at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Washington is the sixth seed in the NFC playoff field after going 12-5 in the regular season. The Commanders also won on the road during the Wild-Card Weekend by edging the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.