Frances Tiafoe celebrates $6.3B Commanders advancing to NFC Championships after shocking upset over Lions

Frances Tiafoe celebrated as the Washington Commanders pulled off a stunning upset against the Detroit Lions on Saturday. The Commanders, valued at an impressive $6.3 billion (according to Forbes), are set to play in the NFC Championship this season—their first appearance in 33 years.

On January 18, at Ford Field, the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions clashed in a high-stakes divisional playoff game with a spot in the NFC Championship on the line. The Commanders pulled off an impressive upset, defeating the top-seeded Lions by more than 10 points. The game ended with a commanding 45-31 victory for Washington.

Since 1991, the Commanders have achieved an impressive 12 wins this season, including a five-game winning streak. After last year's disappointing 4-13 record, they've made remarkable progress under the leadership of their new head coach, Dan Quinn.

On Sunday, January 19, Frances Tiafoe took to Instagram to celebrate the Commanders' hard-fought victory that secured their spot in the NFC Championship. He shared two Instagram stories, captioning the first one:

“NFC championship game next.”

Frances Tiafoe's Instagram Story (Image via Instagram@bigfoe1998)

This victory carries extra significance as the Commanders are heading to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 1991 season. They will take on the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams matchup in the championship game, set for Sunday, January 26.

A look into Frances Tiafoe's 2025 season so far

Frances Tiafoe at 2025 Australian Open - Day 5 | Image Source: Getty

Frances Tiafoe began his 2025 season with a solid start at the Brisbane International. In the first round, he secured a straight-set victory over Australian Adam Walton. He fell short in the second round, losing to Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The American was defeated 4-6, 6-7(4).

Later, Tiafoe competed at the Australian Open, but luck wasn't on his side once again. He secured a hard-fought victory in his opening match against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, triumphing in a grueling five-set battle.

In the second-round match on Thursday, January 16, American tennis star Frances Tiafoe made an early exit from the season’s first Grand Slam. He was defeated by Hungarian tennis pro Fabian Marozsan in a grueling five-set battle. Tiafoe, ranked 16th in the ATP rankings, fell to the world No. 59 with a final scoreline of 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6.