The Washington Commanders are set to face the Detroit Lions this Saturday at Ford Field, a game that promises to be a challenging test for both teams. The Lions’ defense has been rock-solid under coordinator Aaron Glenn, with a strong presence in man-to-man coverage and excellent third-down defense.
While injuries have plagued the Lions, particularly on their defensive line, they have managed to find ways to overcome them. With key players like Aidan Hutchinson out, the Lions have held opponents to 14 points or less seven times this season. They also have 16 interceptions, tied for fourth in the league, and given up the fewest third-down conversions by 12 attempts.
The Commanders’ offense will face a tough challenge against the Lions, with defensive standout Kirby Joseph and Brian Branch posing significant threats. However, quarterback Sam Darnold has been pressured on 28.9% of his dropbacks this season, resulting in a bad throw rate of 34.2%. Despite this, Lions head coach Dan Campbell remains optimistic about Glenn’s abilities.
“Hey get you,” Campbell said. “You gotta just stay within yourself. I think sometimes, you can become an emotional play-caller… You just know with his scheme, there’s going to be times where they win, and they get you, and you’re gonna have some negative plays, but you’re gonna have a chance, because they take risks, to hit some big ones as well.”
The Commanders’ offense has been running through quarterback Carson Daniels at this point, with him proving himself to be composed and smart. Campbell praises Daniels’ ability to progress and see the field well, making him a major threat.
As long as Daniels sticks to his game plan and avoids forcing plays, he believes the Commanders have a chance to hang with the Lions. With their offense averaging 28.5 points per game during the regular season, they will need to stay focused to overcome the challenges posed by the Lions’ defense.
Source: https://www.commanders.com/news/practice-notes-commanders-looking-forward-to-fight-with-lions-defense