The Washington Commanders have captivated the imagination not only of their fans but everyone around the league. They are a feel-good story richly deserving of the plaudits coming their way. Now, the true litmus test arrives.
Dan Quinn's squad dug deep to secure a thrilling Wild Card triumph at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their reward (if you can call it that) is a daunting trip to the Detroit Lions on Saturday Night Football.
The Lions are the No. 1 seed in the NFC after disposing of the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. Their offense is creative, efficient, and ruthless in equal measure. Washington has a big task on its hands, but momentum is high after racking up six-straight victories.
There will be no room for passengers. Everyone involved needs to perform up to or above expectations. And in all honesty, even that might not be enough to counteract the supreme threats Detroit has at its disposal.
Can the Commanders shock the NFL world again and move to within one game of the Super Bowl? Or will the juggernaut in their path prove too much to overcome?
Commanders at Lions game details
- Date: Saturday, January 18
- Time: 8.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ford Field
- TV channel: FOX
Commanders at Lions early odds for NFC Divisional Round game
According to the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, the Commanders are 9.5-point underdogs at the Lions in the Divisional Round.
- Washington +9.5 points: -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Detroit -9.5 points: -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
Anyone brave enough to wager the Commanders' money line can get lofty odds of +385 currently (bet $100 to win $385). The Lions are favored to reach the NFC Conference championship game in front of their home fans at -500 (bet $500 to win $100).
FanDuel Sportsbook is anticipating a thrilling encounter between the two clubs with the over/under set at 55.5 points for the clash.
- Over 55.5 points: -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Under 55.5 points: -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Commanders at Lions prediction for NFC Divisional Round game
The Commanders have done remarkably well to reach this stage of the playoffs in Year 1 of Quinn's tenure. But make no mistake, this represents the most challenging task so far.
Detroit is no longer the laughingstock of the league. Head coach Dan Campbell turned things around through his unique blend of motivation, culture-building, and daring strategies. Hiring Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn as his coordinators was another masterstroke, although both could leave the NFC North outfit this offseason for well-deserved promotions.
That only raises urgency from the Lions' perspective. They have to maximize this window of opportunity. Failure is not an option, so the Commanders are playing spoiler in pursuit of continuing their fairytale run.
Easier said than done. The Commanders looked outmatched defensively, especially in the trenches. Controlling the clock and potentially turning this game into a shootout might be the best way to go, but the Lions can put up points in a hurry.
- Prediction: Commanders loss
This game might be closer than people think. But it would be a bombshell of epic proportions if the Commanders managed to pull this off.
