Detroit Lions Week Seven Preview vs. Washington
The Detroit Lions will look to continue their two-game winning streak on Sunday as they host Washington, which has won its last four games.
The Detroit Lions (3-3) will host their third straight home game and will look to make it their third straight home win as well as they host Washington (4-2), which is on a four-game winning streak oft heir own after starting 0-2.
The Detroit Lions are 3-3 and have won their last two games, but neither of those things is particularly comforting going into week seven. Matthew Stafford has been exceptional, gaining some national attention for his play, but the defense is poor, generating only inconsistent pass rush and few turnovers while journeymen quarterbacks like Brian Hoyer and Case Keenum have had career days against them.
The Lions have won their three victories by a combined eight points, relying on timely turnovers and a little bit of luck to snag victory from the jaws of defeat and keep their season afloat. Each game has been a close one, no Lions game this season featuring a margin of victory larger than seven for either team.
Enter Washington, on a four-game winning streak, coming off a 27-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles and led by former Michigan State quarterback—and last year’s favorite GIF that got old really quickly—Kirk Cousins. Cousins leads a Washington offense that lacks star power but is nonetheless efficient, tied for fifth with the New England Patriots in yards per game this season. Cousins has spread the ball around effectively in the passing game, throwing touchdowns to six different receivers and targeting each of his top four receivers at least five times a game. Matt Jones and Chris Thompson have vastly improved one of the NFL’s worst rushing offenses from a year ago, each averaging over 4.5 yards per carry in the ground game.
Washington’s defense, on the other hand, is below average, allowing 124 rushing yards per game this season, which ranks 28th in the league, while the passing defense hovers around the middle of the pack. Chris Baker and Ryan Kerrigan are the defense’s best players in the front seven, but the pass rush is lacking overall, picking up only eight sacks through six weeks. The secondary boasts a couple of strong corners in Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeman but both starting safeties are currently on injured reserve, leaving Washington hampered on the back end of the defense.