Eric WoodyardJan 18, 2025, 09:46 PM ET
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Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: “Wasted, Ethan’s Talent Search” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story”. He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan. You can follow him on Twitter: @E_WoodyardDETROIT — In a back-and-forth first half in the NFC divisional round against the Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams left his mark with a huge play in the second quarter, sprinting into the end zone from an end-around for a 61-yard touchdown with 4:01 remaining.
After Lions starting quarterback Jared Goff left to be evaluated for a concussion, his backup ,Teddy Bridgewater — who was coaching high school football two months ago — entered in his absence. Bridgewater handed the ball off to running Jahmyr Gibbs who tossed it to Williams who did the rest.
Williams’ score is the fifth-longest touchdown in Lions playoff history, and the longest since Ron Rice had a 94-yard blocked field-goal return in the 1999 wild-card game at Washington, per ESPN Research.
OH MY SAM!!#WASvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/zyqN8CGkDs
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 19, 2025 Earlier in the quarter, tight end Sam LaPorta helped Detroit regain the lead with an impressive one-handed touchdown catch in the back of the end zone.
LaPorta’s 2-yard touchdown from quarterback Goff pushed the Lions ahead 14-10 with 7:44 remaining in the second quarter.
It was LaPorta’s first one-handed catch in his career and the first in the playoffs by any player since Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert had one in the 2022 divisional round against the New York Giants.
Give it to Gibbs 🙌#WASvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/aK6QIajUU0
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 19, 2025 Goff completed the passing touchdown against the Commanders’ blitz.
In the first quarter, Gibbs, the NFL’s regular-season touchdown leader, scored the first touchdown of the game off a goal-line rush.
On the drive — which marked his first four touches of the game — Gibbs rushed for 15 yards, caught a pass for 23 yards, rushed for 9 yards around the right end then capped the drive with the touchdown.
Gibbs is now tied for the second-most touchdowns (35) by a player in their first two seasons in NFL history, including playoffs, per ESPN Research.
Gibbs now has four career postseason touchdowns and is up to 21 total touchdowns this season, which are both the most in Lions history.
