“We have a really good opponent here,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “We have our work cut out for us.”
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions relaxed over a three-day weekend, enjoying the benefits of having the No. 1 seed in the NFC and moving closer to a possible Super Bowl appearance.
The rest helped, but nothing more than just not needing to win to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.
“There’s a good chance you’ll play one less game to reach your ultimate goal,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “That’s really the advantage.”
The top seed Lions (15-2) are also hoping the home field will give them another advantage against the sixth-seeded Washington Commanders (13-5) on Saturday night.
Washington’s victory against third-seeded Tampa Bay spared Detroit a rematch with the Matthew Stafford-led Los Angeles Rams or a third game against NFC North rival Minnesota.
“I like the newness of it,” Campbell said.
The Lions are also new to the Commanders, who have won five straight – each time on a last-minute or last-second play. But they haven’t seen anything like Detroit’s ability to play big on the ground and through the air.
“A lot of challenges, whether it’s the speed and ability of the wide receiver or their running back tandem, the quarterback who can rip it, a great O-line, the defense plays a lot man-to-man and plays aggressively,” Washington said coach Dan Quinn. “We will definitely have our work cut out for us. »
The Commanders’ 23-20 victory eliminated the Buccaneers, one of the two teams to defeat Detroit in the regular season. The Buffalo Bills too beat the Lionswinning 48-42 a month ago.
That’s not to say Detroit, an 8 1/2-point favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, thinks it will have an easy night against a Washington team led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
“We have a really good opponent here,” Campbell said. “They have a dynamic quarterback. They play well on offense, on defense, and they have very good training.
“We have our work cut out for us.”
The game will feature NFL Coach of the Year candidates, and Campbell is well aware of Quinn’s ability to lead a team after facing him in their previous stops.
Quinn led the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 until the start of the 2020 season, overlapping Campbell’s years with the New Orleans Saints as an assistant.
“It’s not like we hang out every day or anything or talk like that, but I’ve known him for a while,” Campbell said. “Certainly, when he was in Atlanta, having to play him twice a year, you get a high level of respect for what they do.
“His teams will always be competitive and they will be ready to go and they will try to do things the right way. I have a lot of respect for what he’s done, and I’m not surprised that they’re where they are, just knowing how he builds things, what his attitude is.
Although Campbell downplayed the significance of the bye week for his struggling team, there is no doubt the break will allow at least one player to return to the field and others, such as cornerback. Terrion Arnold to be healthier.
The Lions expect running back David Montgomery to play against the Commanders – returning from a knee injury that was initially expected to end his season – and join Jahmyr Gibbs in perhaps the best backfield in the NFL .
Montgomery finished with 1,116 yards from scrimmage and scored 12 touchdowns in 14 games, most recently against the Bills a month ago.
“He’s a big part of us,” Campbell said. “She’s a bell cow. He sets the tone. It’s a catalyst.
“There is a place for him here, so there will be a place for him in this match. So, it’s going to be good to get it back.
