Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels defeated the top-seeded Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Michigan to advance to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 33 years.

Daniels threw two touchdowns and rookie Mike Ceristeil had two interceptions — a dazzling performance that cost the Lions an early exit from the playoffs.

The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) nearly held a double-digit deficit against a Super Bowl favorite (15-3) who doomed their chances of living up to expectations with five turnovers. .

Sainri Steele, who won a national title at Michigan last season, completed his second pass on a fourth-quarter comeback on a smart move by receiver Jameson Williams.

Safety Quan Martin caught the ball 40 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, giving Washington a 24-14 lead.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw three catches and lost a fumble in the first half, which resulted in three turnovers. He was 23-for-40 for 313 yards and a touchdown pass to Sam Laporta to help the Lions take their final lead midway through the second quarter.

Daniels finished with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing, becoming just the second rookie quarterback to defeat a top-seeded team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore to victory in 2009 Tennessee team.

Last week, first-year coach Dan Quinn led Washington to its first playoff win in 19 years. The Commanders rallied to beat Tampa Bay in regulation or overtime for their sixth comeback victory and fifth straight victory in the final scrimmage.

Washington outscored Detroit 28-14 in the second quarter, the highest-scoring quarter in NFL playoff history, and led 31-21 at halftime.

Daniels passed for 242 yards in the first half and set a rookie record a week later by becoming the first rookie to lead the team in rushing and passing yards in a playoff win.

Detroit’s Jameer Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight catches for 137 yards.

Late in the first quarter, Goff fumbled a fumble on third-and-1 from the Commanders 17, giving Washington the advantage.

Daniels converted the Detroit Niners’ fourth-and-3 drive into a two-yard touchdown run by Robinson to extend the drive.

Three seconds after Daniels threw a touchdown pass to McLaurin, Goff overturned his intended target and Martin intercepted the ball and carried it to the end zone to give the Commanders a 24-14 lead. Goff was hit by linebacker Frankie Luvu on an interception return and was assessed to have a concussion.

Detroit’s defense couldn’t stop the Generals’ offense all night, and Washington set a season-high in points.

The Lions started the second half strong, forcing Washington to punt for the first time and then drove 76 yards 11 times on the ensuing drive, with Gibbs rushing 8 yards for his second touchdown to make it 31-28.

Washington finished with 15 70-yard touchdown rushes and faced a fourth-down Detroit team with 12 players on the field, and Robinson’s second short touchdown helped restore the Commanders’ 10-point lead.

What to do next?

Washington will play next Sunday on the road against the winner of Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles for a spot in the Super Bowl, live broadcast Sky Sports NFL.