Detroit Lions vs Washington Football Team Point Spread Picks

Detroit as a favorite is always a dangerous proposition as the Lions have trouble winning games period, let alone covering a spread. The Lions have lost two in a row and show no signs of improving under Matt Patricia's disastrous regime. Matthew Stafford was fortunate to start against Minnesota after being in COVID protocol, but then he suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter and is questionable for this game. He was intercepted on consecutive possessions in the third quarter, and Chase Daniel later replaced him and threw another interception. Detroit is #24 in total yards allowed while giving up 30.0 points per game. Washington actually has been playing decent defensively allowing 314.3 yards per game, which is #5 in the league. Washington lost a tough one, 23-20, against the Giants when Alex Smith threw two picks in the final 2:18 of the game. Smith took over for injured Kyle Allen and finished 24 of 32 for 325 yards and a touchdown. Smith is expected to start for the first time in two years this week. The Lions are 4-10 ATS their last 14 games following a loss and 5-14 ATS their last 19 games overall. Detroit has covered only one of its last five home games, and the Lions are 1-7 ATS their last eight November games. Play Washington for a Max Play.

Washington, after opening the season 0-2, has caught fire running off four straight wins to get to 4-2. Detroit, with two straight wins, has gotten to .500 at 3-3, and the Lions, with a few breaks, could arguably be 6-0 as they have lost three games by a total of 11 points. The Lions are a sleeper team that many forget started 1-7 a year ago. They finished 6-2, and one of the losses was on an Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary toss as time expired, or they would have finished 7-1. Couple that with their 3-3 mark this season, and they would be 10-4 in their last 14. They have the sixth best winning percentage in the entire NFL since November 1 last year and have not lost a game by more than one possession since that time as well. The fact is they are better than they are percieved and hold value at home where they are also 5-2 in their last seven, one of those was a stunning 1-point loss this year. Matthew Stafford has a 106 passer rating through six games and is finally living up to the billing. Make the play on Detroit.

Detroit had an easy win at home last week over the New York Jets, but this is their first road contest. Detroit has some defensive injuries and one of the main things to focus on in Thursday's game will be the defensive snaps given to some of the reserve linebackers who are fighting for a shot to make the roster. Star WR Calvin Johnson didn’t play last week and won't see much time tonight, if any. Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is also out for this game. The Washington Redskins got a road win last week and now play their home opener. Washington has a terrific QB rotation for August with RG3, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. Cousins stood out against Cleveland's second stringers last week; now McCoy gets his chance as the second man in after Robert Griffin III. Washington's defense proved stingy against the run last week and looks much improved with depth, so all the cards favor the home team. Take Washington for the win and cover.

Things just don't quite look right for RGIII yet. He looks tentative when stepping out of the pocket and turning up field, which is what made him so dangerous a year ago. He has carried nine times for just 25 yards and appears to still be a work in progress. The Lions picked up Reggie Bush to ramp-up the running game, but the results so far show that it still has a long way to go (3.1 yards per rush through two games). The Lions averaged just 18 points per game in the last quarter of the season a year ago, and they seem to be inclined to shy away from the shootouts that led to losses in factor of mixing it up more. Washington is likely going to feed Alfred Morris a lot and shorten the game, and keep Griffin from being rushed out of the pocket to have him throwing in good situations. These teams have had a history of playing physical games that have seen just one of the last nine meetings make it OVER the total. I expect more of the same on Sunday. This play is on the UNDER.