By Sunday 
There’s nothing quite like a revenge game to wake a team up — and the Detroit Lions are rolling into Washington this weekend with that exact fire burning in their guts.
Last time these two met, the Commanders marched into Ford Field and sent the Lions packing from the playoffs. That sting still lingers in Detroit, and if you’ve read the mood over at Pride of Detroit this week, you’d know it’s not all growls and grit — it’s frustration mixed with a heavy dose of “we owe them one.”
Detroit’s sitting at 5-3, but they haven’t exactly looked like the NFC beast from 2024. One win in their last four games, including a humbling loss to the Vikings, has fans questioning if the magic’s gone. And what better way to answer those doubts than to beat the very team that ended your postseason run?
Meanwhile in Washington… the vibes couldn’t be colder. The Commanders are 3-6, limping through a four-game losing streak, and missing half their key players to injuries. Jayden Daniels is out, Terry McLaurin’s sidelined, and the once-promising season now feels like a slow fade into the offseason.
Head coach Dan Quinn is trying anything to spark life — moving defensive coordinator Joe Whitt from the booth to the sideline, ramping up “good on good” practice battles — but it’s hard to fix a team that’s simply running on fumes.
If the Lions are playing for payback, the Commanders are playing for pride. And sometimes, pride’s all that’s left. But make no mistake — this matchup isn’t balanced. Detroit wants redemption, and Washington’s just trying to stop the bleeding long enough to make it respectable.
Still, if the NFL has taught us anything, it’s that desperation can be dangerous. The Commanders might be wounded, but that’s when teams tend to swing hardest. Whether it lands or not… well, that’s Sunday’s story.