The Detroit Lions are 53% favorites, but will rest most of their key starters in their preseason game against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on Saturday afternoon.
Jayden Daniels is expected to play for the Commanders, though, which gives them a key advantage despite being 1.5-point underdogs.
Once he departs, scoring will be difficult. That's why my Commanders vs. Lions prediction and NFL picks expect a low-scoring affair when these teams meet on Aug. 22 at 12 p.m. ET.
Commanders vs Lions predictions
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Who will win Commanders vs Lions: Commanders
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has indicated he will be using Saturday's game to figure out his best offensive line setup.
With Campbell confirming that neither QB Jared Goff nor WR Amon-Ra St. Brown will start, it's hard for me to see a path for the Lions to claim victory.
That's because I'm not sure how well QB Luke Altmyer will fare as his blockers play musical chairs while Campbell looks for his best OL grouping.
Altmyer threw two picks in Detroit's 16-14 loss to the Bengals and is expected to split reps evenly with Joshua Dobbs, who didn't look great himself
With the Washington Commanders expected to give QB Jayden Daniels and other key starters a few series, they have a clear advantage offensively and a pathway to victory.
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Commanders vs Lions Over/Under pick: Under 37.5
Once Daniels does give way, scoring will be at a premium for both teams.
The Lions coughed up the ball three times against the Bengals and scored just 14 points as they failed to reach the red zone. But defensively, they limited the Bengals to just 3.7 yards per play.
With Marcus Mariota injured, the Commanders will now turn to Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis once Daniels departs.
Both will likely be throwing to guys other than Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, and I won't be surprised if Dan Quinn looks to see what RB Kaytron Allen can do after a strong performance against the Dolphins.
This is a spot where the two defenses are likely to win out more often than not, especially with so many unproven players behind center.
Commanders vs Lions live odds
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Commanders vs Lions weather
Ford Field is a dome.
How to watch Commanders vs Lions
| Location | Ford Field, Detroit, MI |
| Date | Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 12 p.m. ET |
| TV | WUSA, WJBK |
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