NFL playoff picks, predictions: Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders

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In what will be the second game of the divisional round this weekend, the Detroit Lions will host the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on Saturday night, with Washington looking to pull off the upset.

The Lions were arguably the best team in the NFL this season. They finished tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for the best record in the league and stood along atop the NFC with their 15-2 mark, which gave them a first-round bye and home-field advantage, something that was huge for some of their injured players.

Meanwhile, nobody expected the Commanders to be where they are right now. The emergence of No. 2 overall pick and quarterback Jayden Daniels has been amazing to watch and the expected Offensive Rookie of the Year has Washington ready to compete for big things much sooner than anticipated.

Considering Washington has far exceeded expectations, Daniels and Co. are no doubt playing with house money. Despite that, nobody should be taking them lightly. All the pressure is on the Lions, who were considered Super Bowl contenders before the season began.

As you'd expect, the Lions are favored in this game and it is widely believed they will beat the Commanders. Let's see if any experts out there are on the Washington train ahead of Saturday night's showdown.

Lions vs. Commanders picks, predictions

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Lions 31, Commanders 27

Iyer: "The Lions' defense has overachieved through injuries and is hoping to get a little healthier again to face red-hot rookie Jayden Daniels. But this is a tough matchup for Detroit because of Daniels' two dynamic dimensions of firing deep shots and taking off outside. Washington's offense will need to be aggressive and not force the traditional power run too much. The Lions, however, also will be able to exploit the Commanders' run defense plenty with Jahmyr Gibbs and burn them in the slot with Amon-Ra St. Brown. Daniels gets a little more heat than Jared Goff as the Lions survive for a second straight NFC championship trip."

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Lions 34, Commanders 19

Bender: "The Lions had a week to rest, and that should help a defense that worked back linebacker Alex Anzalone late in the season. Can the Commanders' pass defense, which limited the Buccaneers to 183 yards in the NFC wild-card round, throw off the timing for Jared Goff, who had 21 TDs, six interceptions, and a 110.3 passer rating at home this season? How much will cornerback Mashon Lattimore be able to slow down Amon-Ra St. Brown, who had six or more catches in every home game and averaged 81.2 receiving yards per game? David Montgomery (knee) also is expected to return, but Jahmyr Gibbs is poised to be a playoff star here. It's a lot for rookie Jayden Daniels to overcome after his first playoff start, but the Commanders will have a chance if they limit turnovers. They have eight giveaways in their six-game winning streak, and five of them were in the same game, a 36-33 shootout against Philadelphia. The Lions, however, were 4-2 ATS when favored by seven points or more this season, including a 3-1 ATS mark at home."

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Lions 34, Commanders 31

Prisco: "Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will send a lot of looks at Daniels, but he will hold up and make some big plays with his legs against the blitz. But in the end, it will be the Lions who advance with a strong showing from their offense, led by Jared Goff. He will hit some big shots down the field against the Commanders secondary to win it."

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Lions 30, Commanders 27

Cluff: "The Commanders pulled off a 23-20 upset of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road with a field goal as time expired. It's going to be a lot more difficult to upset the Lions at Ford Field. These teams didn't play in the regular season. Jayden Daniels could make things interesting for Washington, but the Lions are rested after their bye in the wild-card round and are playing at home. We expect Jared Goff and company to defeat Washington in a shootout, sending Detroit closer to an elusive Super Bowl appearance."

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Lions 31, Commanders 25

Dragon: "The Commanders won their first playoff game since 2005. Their reward is a trip to Detroit for a meeting against the Lions on Saturday night. Dan Quinn, Jayden Daniels and Bobby Wagner have spearheaded a remarking turnaround for the Commanders. Daniels is on his way to winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history to start and win 13 games, including the postseason. However, the Commanders’ magical season will end in the Motor City. I predict the Lions’ physicality upfront will overwhelm Washington. Detroit possessed the sixth-best rushing attack in the NFL, and they will get back David Montgomery to pair with Jahmyr Gibbs. Daniels will give the Lions’ injury-riddle defense fits, but Aaron Glenn’s defensive unit will make just enough stops. Detroit ends Washington’s improbable season."

Marcus Mosher, The 33rd Team: Lions 37, Commanders 26

Mosher: "The Commanders will score plenty of points in this game, but take the Lions to win and cover at home. The crowd is going to be electric, and despite how good Daniels has been this season, winning back-to-back road games in the playoffs is hard for any quarterback, especially a rookie. Look for the Lions to advance to the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season."

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