The Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions will face off in NFL Preseason Week 2. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. ET from Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. The game will broadcast live on NFL+.
The Lions are favored by -1.5 with the over/under set at 36.5 total points. Detroit is a -130 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while the Commanders are +110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Commanders vs Lions predictions and NFL picks for Saturday, August, 22.
My Commanders vs Lions Prediction
- Commanders vs Lions pick: Commanders +1.5 (-110, DraftKings)
My Commanders vs Lions best bet is on Washington to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Commanders vs Lions Odds
| Commanders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 36.5 -112o / -108u | +110 |
| Lions Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 36.5 -112o / -108u | -130 |
Commanders vs Lions NFL Preseason Preview
Veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs was signed as the potential backup to Jared Goff on Aug. 9. Lions head coach Dan Campbell insists the competition between Dobbs and rookie Luke Altmyer remains open, but it will be Dobbs who draws the start on Saturday.
The veteran Dobbs is a quick study, but there are a couple of factors working against him in the first half of this game.
Injuries have taken a toll on the depth chart for Detroit. All indications out of Lions camp pointed to many of the starters seeing action in preseason Week 2, but Campbell has changed his tune with so many potential regular-season contributors unable to practice.
The Lions would like to get more opportunities to evaluate who will potentially start in Week 1 on the offensive line, but it is clear they have understandably put more of an emphasis on joint practices.
A week ago, the Lions offense struggled with Altmyer making his NFL debut under center. He will once again see at least one half of action.
I am willing to give Dobbs a pass on his limited action versus the Bengals a week ago, when he averaged just 4 yards per pass attempt, since he had only been with the team about a week. But Altmyer’s struggles are more concerning when it comes to handicapping this game versus Washington.
Altmyer averaged under 6 yards per pass attempt, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. In total, the Detroit offense averaged a putrid 4.7 yards per play for the game’s entirety.
Altmyer had a 53.2 passer rating in his debut and will have an even more difficult task this week, given the new attitude the Commanders’ defense is implementing this season.
New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones learned under the ultra-aggressive Brian Flores in Minnesota. Washington, under Jones, has reportedly been sending blitzes from all over the field in practices, and the players are enjoying the proactive approach.
Obviously, the experience of Dobbs makes him more well-equipped to handle pressure, but he is still rather new to the Drew Petzing system in Detroit. Altmyer, on the other hand, will struggle to make the necessary adjustments and could be prone to more turnovers.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn hasn’t been totally transparent about which starters will be playing in this game, but he has confirmed we will see several integral pieces of the team on both sides of the ball.
I wouldn’t expect Jayden Daniels to play much, if he does take the field, but I have confidence the offense can operate reasonably well under Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis, given the competition at receiver down the Commanders’ depth chart beyond Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs.
The competition between Luke McCaffrey and rookie Antonio Williams is still unsettled, but both provide talented options to attack the short and intermediate areas of the field.
On the outside, veterans Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson and Dyami Brown are still vying to make the team. In the context of depth playing deep into exhibition games, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more experienced wide receiver corps.
I also like second-year man Jaylin Lane’s ability to make plays, and that showed up a week ago when he led the team with four receptions.
Commanders vs Lions Prediction, Betting Analysis
Historically, short road underdogs have been extremely profitable in the preseason.
Since 2023, every season has produced a 58.7% against-the-spread win rate or better. Over the last three years, that trend seems to be increasing in strength.
Since the beginning of the 2024 preseason, underdogs of fewer than 3 points playing on the road are 35-18-3 against the number, covering at a 66% rate.
This trend just heightens my confidence that the Commanders can get the job done at Ford Field. The edge Dobbs could provide for the Lions is negated by his supporting cast, and the Washington defensive attack should rattle the rookie Altmyer in the second half on their way to an outright victory.
Pick: Commanders +1.5 (-110, DraftKings)
