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The Washington Commanders, fresh off their first playoff win since 2005, are set to face the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Round this Saturday at Ford Field.
The Lions, boasting a 15-2 record and the league’s highest-scoring offense, are favored to advance, but the Commanders, led by dynamic rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, aim to continue their surprising postseason run.
Let’s dive in our Commanders vs Lions predictions for this NFL Divisional Round game.
• Date: Saturday, Jan. 18th
• Time: 8:15 pm ET
• Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
• Broadcast: Fox
Until the very end of the 2024 regular season, the Detroit Lions had to battle. Not to secure an NFL playoff berth, as that had been clinched weeks before the end of the regular season, but to claim the division title and the top seed in the conference.
To achieve this, they had to overcome the Minnesota Vikings in a decisive final game. The Lions triumphed in convincing fashion, solidifying their excellent regular season, during which they suffered only two losses—against the Bills and the Buccaneers, both at home.
Facing these Detroit Lions will be one of the surprise teams of the 2024-25 NFL playoffs: the Washington Commanders. At the start of the season, the Commanders were expected to make incremental progress in their rebuild under a new head coach and a new quarterback.
However, against all odds, the Commanders delivered a complete season, defying expectations by frequently winning close games. Even in the first round of these NFL playoffs, the Commanders shocked the Buccaneers with a dramatic victory sealed by a last-second field goal that hit the upright before going through.
The explosive offense of the Detroit Lions is undoubtedly one of the Michigan franchise’s main strengths heading into the NFL playoffs. Ranked as the league’s second-best offense in average yards per game, the unit, orchestrated by the brilliant Ben Johnson, is unlikely to struggle finding its rhythm.
Deadly in the passing game and nearly unstoppable on the ground—especially with the return of David Montgomery—the Lions have all the tools to ignite the game early.
While the Detroit Lions’ defense has improved compared to last season, the secondary remains particularly vulnerable, as evidenced by the 244 passing yards allowed on average per game.
This is a surprising weakness, considering the Lions’ defensive backfield features talented playmakers like Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, who are capable of generating turnovers.
For the Washington Commanders, their greatest strength heading into this NFL playoff matchup is undoubtedly the confidence and composure of their young quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Strong in the passing game and even more impressive on the ground, Daniels has shown remarkable poise for such a young NFL player, as he demonstrated again in Tampa Bay during the first round of the 2024-25 playoffs. Additionally, his chemistry with wide receiver Terry McLaurin poses a serious threat to any secondary.
However, the glaring weakness of this Washington Commanders team remains their run defense. Throughout the regular season, the franchise from the nation’s capital allowed an average of 135.4 rushing yards per game, ranking as the third-worst run defense in the NFL.
This is an unenviable position against the Detroit Lions’ potent ground attack, which boasts a dominant offensive line and two dynamic running backs, Montgomery and Gibbs, who have the skills to exploit and overwhelm this defensive unit.
PICK 1 – Jahmyr Gibbs over 84.5 rushing yards (-115)
PICK 2 – Detroit Lions Total Point over 32.5 (-130)
Washington Commanders:
Record: 12-5, finishing 2nd in the NFC East.
Offense: Averaged 28.5 points per game, ranking 5th in the league.
Defense: Allowed 23.0 points per game, placing them 18th in the league.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels: The rookie completed 69% of his passes for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns, adding 891 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities.
Detroit Lions:
Record: 15-2, securing 1st place in the NFC North and the top seed in the NFC.
Offense: Led the league with an average of 33.2 points per game.
Defense: Allowed 20.1 points per game, ranking 9th in the league.
Rushing Attack: Featured a formidable duo with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, each surpassing 1,000 scrimmage yards, contributing to the team’s strong ground game.
Photo credit : Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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