Detroit Lions vs. Washington Redskins: DJC Writer Predictions

The Detroit Jock City writers make their predictions for the Detroit Lions’ week seven home game against the Washington Redskins.

After a 1-3 start, the Detroit Lions needed to make good with their three-game homestand to right their season. It’s been so far, so good with wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams. Only the Washington Redskins stand in the way of a perfect homestand.

The current winning streak is nice, but needs to continue or the Lions run the risk of falling into another hole. With road games at the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings to follow, the Lions either get over the .500 mark with a win over the Redskins or they may not see it again this season.

Here is what the Detroit Jock City staff sees for the game ahead.

Matt Pelc (2-4) – The Detroit Lions came into their three-game homestand on the ropes, losers of three straight games. If they can win on Sunday, against a good Washington team, they can sweep and go above .500 at 4-3.

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A win Sunday would be huge as the Lions have two road games looming before the bye week, and two games against the division-leading and undefeated Minnesota Vikings over the next month. This game will likely define if they are truly a threat for a postseason spot, or just got lucky at the end of their last two games.

Expect this game to be another shootout as neither defense has shown it’s been able to stop anyone’s passing attack, and both quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins, come in red hot.

This is a tough test for the Lions as Washington has gone 8-2 in their last 10 regular season games. Expect another close contest with the maligned defense making a big play late again. Lions win 30 to 28.

Colton Wesley (2-4) – We know two things about the Lions: they struggle running the ball and they struggle defending anything. Fortunately for the Lions, Washington’s rush defense is among the worst in the league and the offense is missing its top weapon in Jordan Reed. Not only that, Dwayne Washington and Larry Warford should return, which would help that anemic Detroit ground game.

The best matchup will feature the Lions’ receivers against Washington’s corners, as Marvin Jones, Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin match up against Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland and rookie Kendall Fuller. It will be up to Stafford to continue to spread the ball around and keep his mistakes to a minimum.

I’ve picked the Lions to lose two weeks in a row and both times they’ve won, so I’m a little hesitant to pick them this week, but I will. Stafford will continue to justify some of the hype he’s gotten this week and the Lions win their third straight at home. Lions win, 27-24.

Zac Snyder (3-3) – The Lions proved me wrong by getting the win last week but the way the game played out proved my doubt right. A defense that makes Case Keenum look like Joe Montana is exceedingly problematic and puts tremendous stress on the offense. Fortunately, Matthew Stafford is playing the best football of his career and the offense is ending scoring drives with touchdowns instead of field goals. I see this week’s game going a lot like last week’s, but the Redskins are a better team than the Rams. Redskins 27, Lions 26.

Matt Snyder (2-4) – Kirk Cousins won’t “like that” by the time this one’s over. The Lions haven’t been a team to win in a blowout, but they’ve been able to grind out wins at home to weeks in a row. I said last week that the Lions will make the playoffs. This week I might be serious. They need to win this wee’s game, however. Lions 28, Redskins 24

Erik Schlitt (3-3) – No Pick

Next: Breaking down the Lions-Redskins Matchup

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