Dyami Brown and 2 under the radar Commanders who must thrive at the Lions

Edging past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers raised a few eyebrows. Still, the Washington Commanders would make this a truly legendary postseason if they upset the Detroit Lions on the road in the Divisional Round.

It's a tall order, but the Commanders can exploit both phases of a suspect Lions' defense if two under-the-radar skill players step up. That's just what Dyami Brown did in Tampa, but the wide receiver can be even more effective at Ford Field.

Brown possesses the vertical speed to stretch the field and create the big plays the Commanders will need to keep pace with the high-powered Lions. Stopping Detroit's offense isn't easy because coordinator Ben Johnson, the hotshot play-caller who jilted Washington a year ago, calls a daring scheme based on moving parts.

Johnson's system appears complex, but the bedrock of the offense is still a prolific rushing attack. Wrecking the latter will require downhill quickness at the line of scrimmage. The kind of explosiveness one key rookie can provide.

Under the radar Commanders who will be vital in Detroit

Johnny Newton must play behind the line

He hasn't always justified his status as a second-round draft pick. Still, there have been signs of what Johnny Newton can bring to Washigton's defensive front — specifically, the short-area quickness to get behind the line of scrimmage in a hurry.

Newton's rapid takeoff and the leverage of his 6-foot-2, 295-pound frame give him advantages against the Lions' powerful but cumbersome offensive line. The Commanders might try to get into a pound-for-pound fight with bigger defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, but the smarter move would be to give the former Illinois star more snaps.

An active and downhill defensive lineman can wreck the Lions' preferred zone-stretch runs before running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery gain momentum. It's worth head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. starting Allen, Payne, and Newton together on early downs. Preferably with Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. on the edges to form a jumbo five-man line to occupy every member of Detroit's dominant offensive front.

Taking away the Lions' go-to runs will put quarterback Jared Goff into negative-yardage situations against a resilient Commanders defense that can't give up the big play.

Dyami Brown can be the main source of big plays

Getting yards in chunks shouldn't be a problem for Jayden Daniels and his receivers. Not when the Lions rank 30th in passing yards allowed.

Brown can get free thanks to the confidence he gained from burning the Buccaneers deep more than once. The 25-year-old finally played like a 6-foot, 195-pounder with the natural talent of a playmaker.

He showed off speed and power after the catch. Notably, when Brown flattened defensive back Mike Edwards.

The play summed up the increased appetite Brown has for making himself a factor. It's a greater sense of professional pride applauded by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Drawing up some deep strikes to Brown should be near the top of Kingsbury's agenda when the Lions have allowed 62 completions of 20-plus yards. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars gave up more big plays through the air during the regular season.

Kingsbury can find new ways to maintain the burgeoning connection between Daniels and Brown, but the play-caller also needs to unleash one key player on the ground.

Austin Ekeler can be a difference-maker

The Lions are well coached defensively thanks to crafty coordinator Aaron Glenn. Even so, his unit lacks elite talent along an injury-hit defensive front seven. It's a weakness Austin Ekeler can exploit as both a runner and receiver.

Ekeler's pass-catching credibility is well-established. The veteran is also a useful runner. Particularly on speed plays behind zone-based blocking.

His 24-yard touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals was the perfect example of the plays suited to Ekeler's running style.

Pushing the Lions around with the power running game won't be easy with massive nose tackle D.J. Reader back in the lineup. It'll make more sense to give Ekeler a bigger workload and unleash his speed early, particularly in tandem with Daniels' rushing talents.

The Commanders can't get into a shootout with the NFL's highest-scoring team. However, they won't overcome the Lions without some sudden strikes of their own.

More Commanders news and analysis