A preview of the Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions NFC Divisional Playoff matchup, featuring the CFN prediction, game analysis, and NFL betting odds.
Detroit Lions are fully prepared, rested, and primed to take on the Washington Commanders in a thrilling NFC Divisional Playoff. With a home game at Ford Field, Detroit is riding high on a remarkable offensive streak, having scored fewer than 24 points only once since Week 3. Their defense, though occasionally flawed, compensates with crucial takeaways, and they’re set to challenge Washington to match their pace.
While the Commanders secured a narrow 23-20 win over a struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their performance wasn’t flawless. However, with Jayden Daniels taking charge, Washington has the potential to keep this game wild and competitive.
Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions: Game Preview
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
Broadcast: FOX
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Teams: Detroit Lions (15-2), Washington Commanders (12-5)
Why the Washington Commanders Will Win
The key to Washington’s success lies in the hands of Jayden Daniels. Despite a banged-up and occasionally shaky defense, the Lions will struggle to contain Daniels, who is more mobile and elusive than the quarterbacks they’ve faced this season. In fact, other quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Josh Allen have had notable performances against Detroit, and Daniels brings the same potential for big plays.
While the Commanders’ defense has its issues, particularly with stopping the run, they excel when keeping opponents’ passing yards under control—something Detroit’s offense is less likely to do, as they’ve only thrown for under 185 yards twice all season.
Why the Detroit Lions Will Win
The Lions’ two losses this season came for very different reasons. Their defeat to Buffalo saw their defense overwhelmed by Josh Allen, who accounted for 559 yards in the win. The second loss came to Tampa Bay, where Detroit couldn’t capitalize on field position and settled for too many field goals.
Despite Washington’s offensive ability, the Commanders’ defense is not strong enough to limit the Lions in the red zone, which is where Detroit thrives. David Montgomery is expected back, providing a tough, physical presence in the run game alongside Jahmyr Gibbs, who has been outstanding in Montgomery’s absence.
Detroit’s offense is designed to control tempo, dictate the style of play, and wear down opponents. They don’t rely on flash—just steady, consistent execution that forces teams to play their game and abandon their usual strategies.
The Bottom Line: Who Will Win?
Washington will need to come out firing, expecting to score at least 30 points—closer to 35 or 40—and pile up over 400 yards to stand a chance. If they can’t keep pace, it’ll be a long night for them.
On the other hand, the Detroit defense has been exceptional on third downs, often forcing teams off the field at critical moments. Their offense, while sometimes slow to start, will find its rhythm after a few initial drives, and once it does, it will be hard to stop.
In the end, Daniels will shine, Brian Robinson will rush for over 100 yards, but it won’t be enough. The energy and execution of the Detroit Lions will overwhelm Washington in the second half.
Prediction: Detroit 37, Washington 27
Line: Detroit -8.5, O/U: 55.5
ATS Confidence: 2/5
Must-See Rating: 4.5
