The Detroit Lions are hosting the Washington Commanders in this week’s NFL Divisional Round of the Playoffs. Washington is coming off an awesome win last week on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20. On the opposing side, the Lions are coming off a bye week they were awarded after being the number one seed in the NFC. Can Jayden Daniels and the Commanders pull off the upset of the year, or will the Lions make the NFC Championship for the second straight season? Let’s dive straight into this game and cook up a winning slip!
Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Washington Commanders | +8.5 (-110) | Over 55.5 (-110) | +385 |
| Detroit Lions | -8.5 (-110) | Under 55.5 (-110) | -500 |
| **Odds Subject to Change** | |||
Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions Match Details
- Fixture: Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions
- Date and Time: January 18th, 2025 @ 8 PM EST
Key Stats
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are coming off a great win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was excellent in the win. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 286 yards and 2 passing touchdowns. He also picked up the key first down to run the clock down to kick the game-winning field goal.
Terry McLaurin was also good with 89 receiving yards on 7 catches and a touchdown. Dyami Brown had his breakout game with 5 catches for 89 receiving yards and a touchdown. This is an offense that did not punt or turn the ball over against the Bucs. When clicking, they are one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL.
The Commander’s defense was good enough to win against the Buccaneers. They held Tampa to 284 yards of offense, 5/9 on 3rd down, and forced a turnover. The only thing that would scare me is that they only sacked Baker Mayfield once. That is concerning when they were 11th in the NFL with 43 sacks and only got to Mayfield once.
Going against an offense that the Lions possess, will be tough for a defense that has been gettable through the air and Ben Johnson will throw out the kitchen sink against this defense. If they can get Jared Goff outside of the pocket, make him a playmaker, and make off-platform throws.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are coming off their bye week past the Wild Card round in the Playoffs. The last time they played Jared Goff, was solid in the Week 18 win against the Minnesota Vikings. He completed 27 of 33 passes for 231 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions.
Jahmyr Gibbs dominated with 170 yards from scrimmage and 4 touchdowns. Amon-Ra St. Brown led the team with 77 receiving yards on 6 catches. Sam LaPorta had a great game as well with 7 catches for 63 receiving yards. When this offense is clicking, they are the best in the NFL. They were 1st in points per game and offensive touchdowns scored.
Defensively, this team has survived all the injuries they have suffered this season. For the season, they are ranked 7th in points allowed per game, 30th in passing yards allowed per game, 5th in rushing yards allowed per game, 5th in offensive touchdowns allowed, 23rd in sacks, and 10th in takeaways per game.
In terms of injuries, David Montgomery, Kevin Zeitler, and Terrion Arnold are currently listed as questionable. With Montgomery coming back, Detroit gets their one-two punch back in the backfield. With them being one win away from hosting their first NFC Championship, I expect them to come out on fire!
Prediction
The Detroit Lions are going to defeat the Washington Commanders and cover the 8.5-point spread in this game. Yes, Jayden Daniels played exceptionally in their win against Tampa, but this is a different beast entirely. The Detroit Lions are on a mission to avenge their NFC Championship loss last season.
They were the best team all season long and I expect them to cruise to a double-digit win in this game. Jared Goff will have a clean pocket just like Baker did last week. This is a team of destiny and will take one step closer to accomplishing their dream with a win on Saturday night!
