The Detroit Lions are set to face the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs. Here’s a breakdown of how the two teams match up in various areas:
Lions’ Offense vs Commanders’ Defense
Passing game: The Lions have a strong receiving corps, led by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The Commanders’ secondary is solid, but may struggle to contain the Lions’ multiple threats. Advantage: Lions.
Run game: The Commanders have a talented front seven, but struggled against the run this season. The Lions’ two-headed monster in the backfield, featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, could wear them down. Advantage: Lions.
Commanders’ Offense vs Lions’ Defense
– Passing game: Jayden Daniels has been excellent against the blitz, and the Lions have deployed plenty of blitzes this season. The Commanders’ receivers, including Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown, could pose a challenge for the Lions’ secondary. Advantage: Commanders.
Run game: Daniels is a threat with his legs, and the Commanders have a solid running back duo in Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. However, the Lions’ run defense has been strong this season. Advantage: Lions.
Special Teams
The Lions have a strong kicking game, led by Jake Bates, while the Commanders have had to shuffle through kickers due to injuries. Advantage: Lions.
Coaching
– Both teams have aggressive coaches who like to go for it on fourth down. The Lions’ Ben Johnson has been creative with his play-calling, and may have an edge over the Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury. Advantage: Lions.
Overall, the Lions appear to have a slight edge in this matchup, thanks to their strong offense and special teams. However, the Commanders’ passing game and coaching could pose a challenge for the Lions.
