Washington Commanders have opportunity to make one Lions assistant look foolish

Of all the subplots of this Saturday's Divisional Round matchup between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions, one of the biggest has to involve Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

That's because, in a different world, Johnson might be coaching the Commanders right now.

Last winter, Johnson was considered one of the top candidates for Washington's open head coaching position after the team parted ways with Ron Rivera. Then, Johnson reportedly informed the Commanders he would be staying in Detroit while the team was in mid-flight and had some choice words regarding their brass. The Commanders ended up hiring Dan Quinn instead.

Now the two teams are set to meet with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line, and a new perspective on what happened between Johnson and the Commanders has been brought to light. According to Washington insider Lake Lewis, Jr., Johnson wanted the team to keep Sam Howell as its starting quarterback should he accept the job, and GM Adam Peters made the decision to turn the plane around.

Either way, Washington should have some bulletin board material regarding Johnson, who is yet again considered the prize of this year's upcoming coaching carousel. Perhaps Johnson could have done wonders for Howell, who showed impressive flashes in his lone season as the Commanders' starter, but given the success of rookie Jayden Daniels this season, it's safe to say Peters made the right call.

It's also hard to see a world in which Johnson would have done a better job than Quinn has with this Commanders roster. Johnson may be considered a top head coaching candidate for the offensive schemes he draws up, but Quinn, much like Detroit's head coach Dan Campbell, is a leader of men. He's injected a passionate energy into this franchise, and it's just what Washington has needed.

Now, regardless of whose decision it really was to blow off the interview, the Commanders will have the opportunity to make Johnson look foolish. If Washington can upset the Lions, he'll be wishing he hadn't burned that bridge -- meanwhile the Commanders will only be all the more vindicated for hiring Quinn instead.