DETROIT >> The Detroit Lions had everything set up the way they wanted this time.

After losing last season’s NFC Championship Game at San Francisco, they went 15-2 to earn the NFC’s top seed. They enjoyed a first-round playoff bye and knew they wouldn’t have to play anywhere but Ford Field until the Super Bowl.

It didn’t matter.

The Lions self-destructed against the Washington Commanders, turning the ball over five times in a 45-31 loss on Saturday night that ended another chance at the franchise’s first Super Bowl.

“We just didn’t complement each other,” said coach Dan Campbell, who nearly came to tears during his postgame news conference. “We didn’t get a stop when we needed one, and when we got a stop, we turned the ball over. With five turnovers — even if one was at the end and it was really four, that’s too much.”

Jared Goff took most of the blame — he threw three interceptions and lost his first fumble of the season. One of the picks was returned 40 yards for a touchdown by Quan Martin to give the Commanders a 24-14 lead.

“If I play better, do we win? Quite possibly,” Goff said. “I cost us points by not taking care of the ball, and that’s something that’s going to hurt for a long time.”

Goff didn’t have a great night, but he wasn’t playing defense. Washington rookie Jayden Daniels played a lot like Goff at his best — completing passes that gave his receivers a chance to run. Of his 299 passing yards, 188 came after the catch.

“We knew what the tape said about him,” Campbell said. “We knew we were going to have our hands full and we didn’t handle it as well as we wanted.”

That wasn’t the only problem, though. Detroit’s injury-riddled defense gave up 481 yards — its third most this season — including 182 on the ground. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler combined for 124 yards on 21 carries and Daniels added 51 more.

Detroit didn’t sack Daniels — a problem it has had since losing Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg in October. Hutchinson had been aiming to return in time for the Super Bowl.

The Lions also lost cornerback Amik Robertson to a broken arm early in the game — yet another major injury for a depleted unit.