Washington vs Detroit Prediction 1/18/2025
Washington vs Detroit Game Information
Story: | Washington vs Detroit Prediction 1/18/2025 NFL Picks |
What: | NFC Divisional Playoffs |
When: | Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
Where: | Ford Field (FieldTurf), Detroit, Michigan |
Washington vs Detroit Line: | Lions -9.5 |
Total: | 55.5 |
TV: | FOX |
Washington vs Detroit Preview
The second game of NFL Divisional Playoffs Weekend will see the Washington Commanders (12-5, 5-3 on the Road) in Detroit to dance with the top-seeded Lions (15-2, 7-2 at Home) in an NFC battle at Ford Field on Saturday night. Led by Rookie QB Jayden Daniels, the Commanders earned the No. 6 seed and a Wild Card Round entry for the NFC East side. Washington went into Tampa in the Wild Card Round and eliminated the Buccaneers last weekend to earn this showdown with the NFC North champion and No. 1-seeded Lions. The winner of this game will face the winner of the LA Rams-Eagles NFC Divisional Round game on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game next weekend. Sportsbook DraftKings has the Lions priced at +275 and the oddsmakers favorites to win Super Bowl LIX with the Commanders currently at 28/1. The Super Bowl is on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans (FOX, 6:30 EST/3:30 PST).
In their last 5 games, the Commanders are a perfect 5-0, defeating the Saints by 1 (20-19), the Eagles by 3 (36-33), the Falcons by 6 in OT (30-24), the Cowboys by 4 (23-19), and the aforementioned Buccaneers last weekend in the Wild Card Round by 3 (23-20). In their last 5 games, the Lions are 4-1, knocking off their rivals, the Packers, by 3 (34-31), losing to the Bills by 6 (48-42), beating the Bears by 17 (34-17), the 49ers by 6 (40-34), and the Vikings by 22 in their last Regular Season game (31-9) in a result that rewarded Detroit with the NFC North title as well as a Bye in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Commanders in Their Biggest Game in Many Years
Washington (11-6-1 ATS, 11-7-0 O/U) looked pretty good at Tampa Bay and the Commanders (+409 Moneyline) have been a strong Over team. With Starting Rookie QB Jayden Daniels (LSU) helping establish a strong Rushing attack (154.1 PPG, #3) with RB’s Brian Robisnson Jr. (799 Rushing yards, 6 TD, 4.3 YPC) and Austin Ekeler (367 Rushing yards, 4 TD). The electric Daniels (891 Rushing yards, 6 TD, 6.0 YPC) is a true dual threat. The Commanders Passing attack (215.6 YPG, #17) is average, but Washington has some decent sure-handed targets in WR Terry McLaurin (82 Receptions, 1,096 Receiving yards, 13 TD) and veteran TE Zach Ertz (66 Receptions, 654 Receiving yards, 7 TD).
Washington’s Defense (23.0 PPG, #18) has had its moments and helped the Commanders (+1 TO Margin Regular Season) play pretty well and advance vs the Buccaneers last Saturday. All that matters is advancing at this point. Washington has 5 Losses and 4 came to Playoff teams (PHIL, PIT, BALT, TB). Veteran LB Bobby Wagner (Ankle) is hobbled but expect him to play here. Without Warger here, the Commanders may be in trouble. (Rotowire: He didn’t practice on Wednesday). Washington has major problems in the Receiving spots with TE’s Ertz, Ben Sinnott (Shoulder), and Colson Yankoff (Hamstring) both hobbled and WR Jamison Crowder (Hamstring) all Questionable.
Washington Commanders Betting Trends
- The Commanders are 1-5-1 ATS their last 7 vs Detroit
- Washington is 8-3 SU in its last 11 Road games overall
- The Commanders are 5-5-0 ATS in their last 10 games
- The Under is 2-0-0 in Washington’s last 2 games
- Washington is 1-3-0 ATS in the last 4 Road games
- The Commanders are 1-6-0 SU in their last 7 vs the Lions
Lions Still Seeking Elusive Super Bowl Appearance
“He’s dangerous. He does not play the position like a Rookie.” These were the words of Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell talking about Commanders Rookie QB Daniels, who won the Heisman Trophy last year and is now taking over the NFL by storm. With QB Jared Goff (4,6289 Passing yards, 37 TD, 67.1 QBR), RB Jahmyr Gibbs (1,412 Rushing yards, 16 TD), and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (1,263 Receiving yards, 12 TD). the Lions (-509 Moneyline) have one of the most potent Offenses in recent NFL memory and Detroit will head in with the NFL’s top Offense (32.3 ppg, #1), No. 2 Passing Offense, the No. 6 Rushing Offense and an active Thomas Robinson.
On Defense, (20.1 PPG #7), this team is very beat up and have been playing without a number of key guys in an Injury-plagued season including Aidan Hutchinson. Still with so many missing, Detroit (12-5-0 ATS, 9-7-1 O/U) has played admirable Defense and have a certain confidence now after finding ways to win despite being so hobbled on that side of the football. Here putting pressure on and trying to contain the prancing baby deer Daniels will be crucial.
Detroit Lions Betting Trends
- Detroit is 9-1 SU in its last games overall (Loss to Bills)
- Detroit HC Dan Campbell is 44-35-1 SU (55.6%) with the Lions and Dolphins
- The Lions have the best ATS record in the NFL at 12-5-0
- Detroit is a profitable 3-0-0 SU/ATS in its last 3 games
- The Over is 4-1-0 in the Lion’s last 5 games overall
- Goff has thrown for 221 yards or more 9 straight games (High 494 vs BUF)
Washington vs Detroit Prediction
Even though they had some very down years (and decades), the Lions have done pretty well against the Commanders, going 6-3 SU in the last 9, winning 6 of the last 7 and going 5-3-1 ATS over that span (2007-2022). The Under is 5-3-1 in those 9 games although the Over has been the play the last 2 series meetings. With this game at Ford Field, the Weather won’t be an issue and with this the highest Total in the NFL Divisional Round (55.5), we can expect a lot of scoring here, especially with these two talented QBs.
This Washington vs Detroit NFL pick will look for the Lions to score at least 4-5 TDs and a FG (31-38 points) to the Commanders 3 TDs (21), so it may be close and expect this Point Spread to reach 10 by game time. The Lions are fueled by the memories of last year’s NFC Championship where they could taste a Super Bowl appearance, but Fate intervened as a ball bounced off a helmet at the 49ers used all the Luck and Skill they had in that historic Second Half that left Detroit wondering and San Francisco headed to become the Chiefs next Super Bowl victims. With that memory driving them and overcoming so many Injuries, this is an emotionally charged football team with the perfect leader in Campbell.