Dorance Armstrong Jr. - Commanders DE
Generating pressure on Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff might be difficult. The pre-snap motion is creative and can confuse opposing defenses. The veteran signal-caller gets the football out quickly into the hands of his primary playmakers. Ben Johnson's rushing attack makes play-action a serious obstacle to overcome.
That's without counting for the Lions' offensive line. They are outstanding with Pro Bowlers and All-Pros everywhere you look. This is no more evident than at the tackle positions with Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.
Sewell and Decker are among the league's most productive tackle tandems. They are aggressive, athletic, and accomplished. That's a dangerous combination that the Washington Commanders must find a way to counteract.
Considering how Sewell is dominating everyone unfortunate enough to meet him at the line of scrimmage, attacking Decker might be the best route forward. Dorance Armstrong Jr., in particular, needs a big-time performance in the Divisional Round pressure cooker.
Armstrong's been solid if not spectacular this season. His pass-rushing is sufficient with six sacks and 46 pressures throughout the campaign. The player hasn't excelled against the run, which could be something the Lions look to exploit in this one.
Dan Quinn thought enough of Armstrong to bring him along for this unbelievable ride. There would be no better time to repay this faith.
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
The margin for error with Brian Robinson Jr. is slimmer than most. His production has dipped significantly in recent weeks. He's gone from a potential long-term focal point to someone who could potentially be replaced if a better option can be found during the offseason.
Robinson is talented, there's no debate about that. His performance levels over the first half of 2024 were immensely encouraging. Things have dipped since then, and his carries diminished significantly due to this downturn in consistency.
This has a lot to do with the offensive line's run blocking taking a step back. However, that does not detract from the need Robinson has to show out on primetime and keep the clock ticking over at the Detroit Lions.
Detroit's run defense gave up just 98.4 rushing yards per game during the regular season, which was fourth-best around the league. Kliff Kingsbury cannot go away from the ground game. That puts the onus on the former third-round selection out of Alabama to set the tone and take some pressure off rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
It wouldn't be a big shock to see veteran Austin Ekeler get more involved. He's got the savviness and big-game experience to remain calm amid the chaos. Robinson has a role to play — just how big will be determined by his early contribution.