The Washington Commanders surprised many around the league by winning double-digit games for the first time since 2012 and coming one victory away from reaching the Super Bowl. Now, there are higher expectations for the squad in the second year of the Jayden Daniels era.
The Commanders will have a tougher schedule this year by virtue of finishing second in the NFC East. Super Bowl contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions loom later in the year along with talented teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. They will also experience a dramatic increase in travel miles, which includes a trip to Europe to play the Miami Dolphins.
Now that the season is on the horizon, Commanders.com is going to break down each of Washington's opponents. We'll move on to the Detroit Lions, who will enter the new season with a new offensive and defensive coordinator.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Nov. 9
Time: 4:25 p.m.
Location: Northwest Stadium
Individual stats leaders
- Passing Yards -- QB Jared Goff (4,629)
- Passing TDs -- QB Jared Goff (37)
- Rushing Yards -- RB Jahmyr Gibbs (1,412)
- Rushing TDs -- RB Jahmyr Gibbs (16)
- Receiving Yards -- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (1,263)
- Receiving TDs -- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (12)
- Tackles -- LB Jack Campbell (131)
- Sacks -- DE Aidan Hutchinson (7.5)
- Interceptions -- S Kerby Joseph (9)
Key additions
- CB D.J. Reed (free agency)
- LB Derrick Barnes (free agency)
- DT Tyleik Williams (draft)
- OL Tate Ratledge (draft)
- DE Marcus Davenport (free agency)
Key questions
- Can the offensive line recover from its losses? The Lions had one of the best offensive lines in the sport last season, which helped them rank sixth in rushing yards per game and 10th in total sacks. Now, longtime center Frank Ragnow has retired, and Kevin Zeitler signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. The Lions do have some answers for the massive hole created by both players; Graham Glasgow is set to switch from guard to center, while rookie Tate Ratledge will compete for a starting guard spot. That means the Lions will have a new interior up front, and it could take some time for the three players, including Christian Mahogany, to get comfortable with each other. The Lions will start the season with games against the Packers, Bears and Ravens, none of which will be easy opponents.
- Can Aidan Hutchinson return to dominance? Hutchinson only played in five games last season and still managed to lead the Lions in sacks, so that should tell you all you need to know about how important he is to the team's pass rush. Hutchinson had an exceptional start to his career by finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 and making his first Pro Bowl in 2023. He took a dramatic step as a pass-rusher in 2023, doubling his quarterback hits from 15 to 33 and getting 11.5 sacks. He had to sit out for most of the 2025 season because of a fractured tibia and fibula. Hutchinson was fully cleared in June and said he believes he is still in a good position heading into his fourth season. However, as with anyone who has suffered a serious injury that requires significant recovery time, he will still need to show that he is healthy.
- How will the Lions react to their coaching changes? After years of being courted by other teams, Ben Johnson has finally left the Lions to become the Chicago Bears' head coach. The same goes for Aaron Glenn, who is now leading the New York Jets. Johnson and Glenn working as the offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, were just as critical to Detroit's success as the roster itself. Johnson maximized Goff's skill set and orchestrated the second-best offense in football last season, while Glenn led a tough, solid unit that struggled down the stretch because of injuries. Dan Campbell is still the main voice for the Lions, but losing both coordinators in the same offseason can be a tough adjustment for any team. It will be interesting to see how John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard, the new offensive and defensive coordinators, will handle the new responsibility.
