MichiganCardinal Posted January 13 Posted January 13 vs. Setting: 01/18/2025 8:00pm EST on FOX Site: Ford Field in Detroit, MI Weather: Climate Controlled Opening Spread: Lions -8.5 All-Time Series Record: Commanders lead, 31-16 Last Meeting: 09/18/2022, Lions won 36-27 #6 Washington Commanders (13-5) Head Coach: Dan Quinn (7th Season: 55-47, 4-2 in Playoffs) Projected Starting QB: Jayden Daniels (1st Season: 12-5, 1-0 in Playoffs) Last Week: 23-20 W @ #3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-8) Your #1 Detroit Lions (15-2) Head Coach: Dan Campbell (4th Season: 39-28-1, 2-1 in Playoffs) Projected Starting QB: Jared Goff (9th Season: 81-52-1, 4-4 in Playoffs) Last Week: BYE (following 31-9 W v. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)) Elsewhere in the NFL Saturday: #4 Houston Texans @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs (4:30pm on ESPN/ABC) Sunday: [Winner of #5 Minnesota Vikings @ #4 Los Angeles Rams] @ #2 Philadelphia Eagles (3:00pm on NBC), #3 Baltimore Ravens @ #2 Buffalo Bills (6:30pm on CBS) Quote
TP_Fan Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Love that we have a new matchup. Was sick of Vikings/Rams. Daniels is the real deal. Washington defense really struggles, offense should be able to hum along and you hope the crowd disrupts Daniels enough. Cant believe I’m saying this, but this might be a good game to receive first. Get 7 and then put Washington against an insane crowd. Quote
chasfh Posted January 13 Posted January 13 We get the Commanders on six days rest. That’s a bit of a break. 2 Quote
Hongbit Posted January 13 Posted January 13 (edited) Like the matchup but this is not a team that you want be in a close game at the end. They’ve won their last 5 games on the last play. Edited January 13 by Hongbit 1 Quote
RedRamage Posted January 13 Posted January 13 I don't love the idea of facing a running QB, but having Anzalone back will help there a bit. 1 Quote
Motown Bombers Posted January 13 Posted January 13 41-10 Lions. Daniels will score a TD on the first possession, but he celebrates by running head first into the wall knocking him out for the game. 1 Quote
oblong Posted January 13 Posted January 13 is there a more annoying local media personality than Ryan Ermani? He's on Fox 2 and does a podcast or something and man... is his football knowledge so generic and shallow. I'm a total bandwagoner and I feel like I know more than he does. Says the most basic things as if he unearthed something meaningful. Just now on the news he says "Let me explain the divisional round for you. (dramatic pause). If the Lions win on Saturday, then win again the next week at home.. (dramatic pause)... the Lions are going to the Super Bowl" He does this kind of thing constantly. 2 2 Quote
RedRamage Posted January 13 Posted January 13 19 minutes ago, oblong said: Just now on the news he says "Let me explain the divisional round for you. (dramatic pause). If the Lions win on Saturday, then win again the next week at home.. (dramatic pause)... the Lions are going to the Super Bowl" Wait, what??? You mean ....... if we just win two ......... more games then we'll ......... be in the .......... SUPER BOWL?!?? 1 Quote
Jason_R Posted January 13 Posted January 13 To win on the last play from scrimmage, you have to be within a score on the last play from scrimmage. This one won’t be that close. Detroit 34 - Washington 19 Quote
lordstanley Posted January 13 Posted January 13 1 hour ago, Jason_R said: To win on the last play from scrimmage, you have to be within a score on the last play from scrimmage. This one won’t be that close. Detroit 34 - Washington 19 And another to look at it is that it took the Commanders until the last play from scrimmage to put away a New Orleans team that finished 5-12, a very good Eagles team but in Washington and with Philly's backup QB, an 8-9 Atlanta team in overtime at home, a 7-10 Dallas team, and a pretty good 10-7 Tampa team. None of that can compare to staying close to a 15-2 Lions team on the road. The Commanders' only win by more than one score after Week 7 was 42-19 hosting Tennessee in Week 13. Quote
MichiganCardinal Posted January 13 Author Posted January 13 My gut tells me it’ll be closer than I’d like. Washington is hot and playing with house money. The Lions have the benefit in that they’re not really cold, at least not in the same way the Chiefs are (who haven’t played a meaningful game in nearly a month). But the Commanders are the prototypical young and scrappy underdog team that has far exceeded expectations, now with nothing to lose. They think they can beat anybody. Thats a dangerous team to play when it’s a one-and-done. Position by position it’s hard to name one where Washington is better, but this isn’t a best-of-five series. You can’t afford to go down 21-0, or cough up multiple turnovers. Ultimately, talent beats spirit more often than not (and it’s not like Detroit doesn’t have plenty of spirit of their own). I think that’s the case here too, but it’s not as easy a matchup as an apples to apples roster comparison might suggest. 3 Quote
KnoxP Posted January 13 Posted January 13 My big hope is that not too many fans sell off tickets for profit. Don't want to see Washington well represented @ Ford Field. Quote
ben9753 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 (edited) If there was an expansion draft with all players available, Jayden Daniels would probably go 1-1 Edited January 13 by ben9753 Quote
lordstanley Posted January 13 Posted January 13 There are no easy games in the playoffs and I sure hope this isn't a case of famous last words, but I actually expect the Lions to win rather comfortably. I'd be disappointed if the lead is under 10 points heading into the 4th quarter. Quote
Motown Bombers Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Campbell should rest the starters so they are available for the NFC Championship Game. Quote
RandyMarsh Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Having Anzalone back is a big help against a running QB like Daniels, we got picked apart a bit by Caleb and Josh Allen cause we had Campbell spying on them and none of our other LBs could cover sideline to sideline. Now if we try the same thing with Daniels we will atleast have one of Anzalone or Campbell there to help in other parts of the field. Quote
RandyMarsh Posted January 13 Posted January 13 I'd actually like the Lions to come out and try to play more conservative on defense and force Daniels to beat you from the pocket. Getting pressure on him only to flush him out of the pocket plays to his strengths, make him prove to you that he can make the tight window throws from the pocket. Quote
TP_Fan Posted January 14 Posted January 14 I’m undefeated when attending lions home games. The ticket prices are insane right now. Quote
IdahoBert Posted January 14 Posted January 14 14 hours ago, oblong said: is there a more annoying local media personality than Ryan Ermani? He's on Fox 2 and does a podcast or something and man... is his football knowledge so generic and shallow. I'm a total bandwagoner and I feel like I know more than he does. Says the most basic things as if he unearthed something meaningful. Just now on the news he says "Let me explain the divisional round for you. (dramatic pause). If the Lions win on Saturday, then win again the next week at home.. (dramatic pause)... the Lions are going to the Super Bowl" He does this kind of thing constantly. Deep thoughts with Jack Handy. 1 Quote
IdahoBert Posted January 14 Posted January 14 14 hours ago, RedRamage said: Wait, what??? You mean ....... if we just win two ......... more games then we'll ......... be in the .......... SUPER BOWL?!?? I know, right? I’m no real football fan by any means, but I would really like to see the Lions run the bases more aggressively in this match. 1 Quote
Mr.TaterSalad Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Do we know if Payne will be playing for Washington? He hurt his finger or hand in the Tampa Bay game. Not having him play seems like a big boost for our running game. I would assume he's going to be back playing. Quote
Motown Bombers Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Their run defense is bad with Payne, can't imagine without him. Quote
Hongbit Posted January 14 Posted January 14 18 hours ago, RandyMarsh said: I'd actually like the Lions to come out and try to play more conservative on defense and force Daniels to beat you from the pocket. Getting pressure on him only to flush him out of the pocket plays to his strengths, make him prove to you that he can make the tight window throws from the pocket. I think that’s the obvious strategy against any rookie QB. Stopping him from running is easier said than done. Multiple times last week, he easily beat the spy to pick up a first down. The guy has a way of making people miss that you typically only see with running backs and Lamar. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.