As the Detroit Lions prepare for their Divisional Round matchup against the Washington Commanders on Saturday, safety Brian Branch knows that limiting the effectiveness of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will be crucial to their success.
Joining NFL Network’s The Insiders on Thursday, Branch emphasized the importance of containing Daniels by shrinking the pocket, a proven effective strategy against mobile quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson.
“You got to shrink the pocket,” Branch said. “Jayden Daniels, I played him in college. He’s an exceptional quarterback. He kind of reminds me of Lamar [Jackson], just how he moves and stuff. But to me, that’s really the game plan — just shrinking the pocket on him and making him make those throws.”
Daniels, who has been nothing short of sensational during his rookie season, led the Commanders to a 12-5 record and a berth in the second round of the playoffs. The presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels has displayed poise and resilience, leading Washington out of the NFC East cellar and into playoff contention. He set a rookie record for completion percentage (69.0%) while throwing for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Daniels also rushed for 891 yards, the most by a rookie in NFL history, bringing his total yardage to 4,459 — the fourth-most by a rookie in league history.
The Lions’ defense will be tasked with stopping the rookie phenom on Sunday, and they are coming into the matchup with a strong record of their own. Detroit finished the regular season with a 15-2 record, exceeding expectations and surging through a season marred by injuries to key players. Their defense, however, has remained formidable, aided by talents like Branch, who has been a standout contributor in the secondary.
“The vibes are immaculate,” Branch said of the defense’s chemistry. “I feel like everybody is on the same page here. We are hungry more than ever. We have been in this moment before, this time we are trying to finish it.”
Branch was referring to last year’s NFC Championship Game collapse against the San Francisco 49ers, a loss that has fueled the Lions’ determination to finish strong in the 2025 playoffs. Detroit enters Saturday’s game as the heavy favorite, but Branch quickly downplays any outside distractions.
As the Detroit Lions take on the Washington Commanders, Brian Branch and his teammates will be focused on stopping Jayden Daniels and advancing to the NFC Championship Game, hoping to secure a Super Bowl appearance after a historic season finally.
