The Detroit Lions visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday, looking to rebound from a recent loss against a team missing quarterback Jayden Daniels due to injury. Detroit enters as heavy favorites with an 8.5-point spread, while Washington turns to backup Marcus Mariota. The game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET from Northwest Stadium.
The Detroit Lions (5-3) aim to extend their streak of avoiding back-to-back losses, which stands at 52 games since 2022, when they face the struggling Washington Commanders (3-6) in Week 10. This rematch of last year's NFC divisional round follows Detroit's 27-24 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings, where the Lions managed just 305 total yards—their fifth straight game under 380 yards—and 65 rushing yards while Jared Goff was sacked five times.
Washington's offense takes a major hit without reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his elbow in a Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and will miss the game. Backup Marcus Mariota steps in for his fourth start of the season, facing a Lions defense led by Aidan Hutchinson, who has seven sacks and recently signed a massive extension. The Commanders' quarterbacks have absorbed 24 sacks this year, tied for ninth-most in the NFL, and Mariota has taken multiple sacks in three of his four significant appearances.
Defensively, Washington has faltered, allowing over 410 yards per game in their last four contests—the second-highest mark in the league—and outscored 135-67 during a four-game skid, the NFL's worst point differential since Week 6. Additional injuries sideline wide receiver Terry McLaurin and other key players, forcing reliance on rookies like right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and cornerback Trey Amos.
For Detroit, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery could exploit Washington's weaknesses, though some Lions offensive linemen are banged up. Betting odds list the Lions as 8.5-point favorites with a money line of -481, while the Commanders are +363 underdogs. The over/under varies slightly between 48.5 and 49.5 points across sportsbooks.
A SportsLine model simulation predicts a Lions 31-22 victory, with Detroit winning outright in 69% of 10,000 runs and the over hitting in 55%. Experts see this as a get-right spot for the Lions, picking them to cover the spread and the total to go over.