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95 Percent of NFL Experts Predict Lions to Beat Commanders

Will Lions knock off Commanders to advance to NFC Championship Game?
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell watches the action from the sidelines against the Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell watches the action from the sidelines against the Minnesota Vikings | David Reginek-Imagn Images

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The Detroit Lions are currently 8.5-point betting favorites ahead of their NFL Divisional Round contest at home against the Washington Commanders.

Washington advanced to face the No. 1 seed in the NFC by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20, in the Wild Card Round.

According to NFL Pickwatch, 95 percent of NFL analysts are picking the Lions to defeat the Commanders at Ford Field.

Dan Campbell has often indicated teams that handle the growing pressure the best are able to execute and advance in the postseason.

Heading into their first playoff game this year, Detroit is confident the roster will not crumble when the pressure mounts in critical moments of competitive games.

“I don’t know if there’s something that we say, ‘Okay this is – it’s this type of game, this is how we’re going to-' I think we handle the perception of pressure well, the lights, all of it," Campbell said. "Really, we handle one o’clock games too, we handle that pretty well too. But I think for us, a lot of times two things happen, and it happens in those type of games, it happens in the playoffs.

"I said it last year, you either crumble – it's too much and some guys crumble, teams crumble because it’s just too much pressure, you can feel the lights, the bright lights. Or you want it so bad that you go out of the norm, and you start trying to make plays instead of just doing your job that got you 15 wins," Campbell explained further. "Just do your job, the guy next to you will do his, one more time, that’s all."

Additional reading

1.) Five Detroit Lions to Watch Against Washington Commanders

2.) Predictions: Lions-Commanders

3.) Detroit Lions Were Most-Watched NFL Team in 2024

4.) Amik Robertson Is 'Not Gonna Bow Down' to Commanders Wideouts


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John Maakaron
JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland  Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!