The Detroit Lions are riding a wave of fan support as they gear up for their playoff showdown against the Washington Commanders.
With an impressive 15-2 record and their first No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Lions enter as home favorites following a well-earned bye week and their second straight NFC North title.
One former Lions quarterback recently emphasized the challenge Washington faces in containing the Detroit attack.
“Unless Washington plays one of its best, if not the best, defensive game they’ve had all season, it’s hard to see this offense in Detroit not scoring 30-plus points in this game at home,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said, via NFL on ESPN.
"It's hard to see this offense in Detroit not scoring 30 plus points in this game at home."@DanOrlovsky7 and the rest of NFL Live is taking the Lions against the Commanders Saturday ? pic.twitter.com/KuJcF0ui2p
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 17, 2025
His perspective resonates with fellow “NFL Live” personalities, as Mina Kimes, Ryan Clark and Hannah Storm all picked the Lions to emerge victorious in this divisional clash.
The Commanders, however, bring their own momentum into this matchup.
They’ve strung together six consecutive wins, with the last five coming down to nail-biting final plays.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has displayed remarkable composure under pressure, benefiting greatly from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s strategic no-huddle approach.
This particular aspect of Washington’s game plan hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Detroit defense, which has dedicated significant practice time to counter it.
Its primary concern lies in third-down situations, where the Commanders have found consistent success.
Adding another layer to this matchup is Washington head coach Dan Quinn’s historical success in disrupting Detroit quarterback Jared Goff.
Yet, the Lions’ offense appears to be peaking at the perfect time.
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