Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Kris Harrell

Saturday game determines Super Bowl LIX teams

Greenville native Za’Darius Smith is set to play in a divisional round of the NFL playoffs as his team, the Detroit Lions go up against the Washington Commanders, in a semi-final meet expected to determine which National Football Conference (NFC) team advance to the Super Bowl LIX. 

Smith graduated from Greenville High School and started his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. From there, he has played for many teams in the NFC and AFC. 

Most recently, Smith was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Detroit Lions during the 2024 season. This comes after the Detroit Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg. 

Smith has appeared in 117 career games – starting in 74 – in his 10-year NFL career. Most recently, Smith boasts 35 tackles, nine tackles for loss and nine sacks for his 2024 season with both the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.

Additionally, Smith was selected for the Pro Bowl three times: in 2019 and 2020 during his time with the Green Bay Packers and in 2022 with the Minnesota Vikings. Being selected for the roster of the Pro Bowl establishes a player as one of the best at his position on the team. 

For the Detroit Ravens’ postseason, Za’Darius Smith will be playing with the team in their divisional playoff in the National Football Conference. The game, a meeting with the Washington Commanders on Jan 18, starts at 7 p.m.

The winner of this game will advance to the NFC championship, playing off against another team in their division which is yet to be determined. 

If the Detroit Lions win both games, they will then head to the Super Bowl LIX to face off against the winner of the AFC championship. 

Fans and supporters can watch Smith with the Detroit Lions on Jan 18 at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports or on NFL+.