The Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders will face off in Week 10 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, as both teams search for a much-needed win to keep their seasons alive.

For Detroit (5–3), last week’s surprising defeat against the Minnesota Vikings tightened the race in the NFC North. With the division heating up, the Lions must regroup quickly and handle business in the coming stretch to stay on pace for a playoff berth.

Meanwhile, the Commanders (3–6) have found themselves in a downward spiral. A four-game losing streak and multiple key injuries — including quarterback Jayden Daniels, who’s expected to miss time due to an elbow issue — have dimmed Washington’s postseason hopes. One more loss could effectively end their season.

Below are the MLive writers’ score predictions for Sunday’s Lions-Commanders matchup:

“Campbell’s Bounce-Back Formula Continues”

Head coach Dan Campbell has a knack for getting his team back on track after a loss, and that trend should continue this weekend. With backup quarterback Marcus Mariota under center and Washington’s defense struggling to stop the run, Detroit has a prime opportunity to get its offense rolling again.

Expect the Lions to reestablish their ground game, regain offensive rhythm, and maybe even grab a bit of payback for last year’s postseason loss.

“Detroit’s Offense Should Rebound”

With Jayden Daniels sidelined, this matchup might not carry the same revenge narrative for Detroit, but it’s still a chance for them to reset. The offensive line remains a concern, yet the Lions have not lost consecutive games since Week 8 of 2022 — a testament to Campbell’s leadership and the team’s resilience.

The formula here is simple: run the football early and often. Getting David Montgomery involved on short-yardage situations could set the tone and open up play-action opportunities later in the game.

“Hard to Bet Against Detroit After a Loss”

History suggests picking against the Lions after a defeat is unwise. Over the past three seasons, Detroit has responded to losses with wins by an average margin of 16.6 points.

The Commanders, on the other hand, are riddled with injuries beyond quarterback and continue to slide defensively. Given those factors, a comfortable Detroit victory seems likely.

National Media Predictions for Lions vs. Commanders

“With Jayden Daniels sidelined, Marcus Mariota takes over, but that’s hardly Washington’s only concern. The defense has been a liability all year. Expect Jared Goff to bounce back after a quiet week against Minnesota and put up big numbers versus this struggling unit.”

“Washington heads into this game after one of its most deflating performances in recent memory. The defense allowed 31 first-half points to Seattle, compounding a long list of injuries. Counting on Dan Quinn’s group to suddenly reverse course against Dan Campbell’s 11th-ranked offense doesn’t seem realistic — even if Detroit has been a bit off lately.”

“The Commanders have now dropped four in a row, and Daniels’ injury only deepens the misery. This season has turned into a nightmare, and it’s not about to get better with a matchup against Jared Goff and the Lions.”

“Detroit catches a major break facing a Dan Quinn defense that’s been vulnerable both through the air and on the ground. Given those weaknesses, Marcus Mariota has little chance of keeping pace with Goff and his well-stocked offense.”

“Marcus Mariota is a capable veteran, but Washington was already struggling with Daniels. It’s hard to imagine them competing against a Lions squad eager to bounce back after being embarrassed by Minnesota.”

“Detroit should find redemption much more easily without Daniels in the lineup. The Commanders have completely unraveled, and what could’ve been an exciting rematch of last year’s playoff clash now feels like a mismatch.”

“The Lions are angry after last week’s home loss to the Vikings. The Commanders, meanwhile, have fallen apart. Any excitement that might have surrounded this so-called rematch has been drained. Expect Detroit to dominate from start to finish.”