At long last, the
2025 NFL playoffs have arrived in Detroit. The
Detroit Lions (15-2) host the
Washington Commanders (13-5) in the NFC divisional round on Saturday night at Ford Field. The
Lions are the NFC No. 1 seed and had last week off thanks to earning the
first-round bye as the top team in the conference. The Commanders have completely
reversed fortunes after going 4-13 last season to earn a wild-card spot and then upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on the road last week. They are led by
likely Rookie of the Year, quarterback Jayden Daniels . The Lions, who own the NFL's
third-worst record in the playoffs , are 0-3 against Washington having been outscored 99-30. The divisional round game between The Lions and Commanders kicks off at 8:10 p.m. at Ford Field. The game will be televised on Fox and can be streamed on
Fubo (sign up for free trial) . The Lions are 9-point favorites, per
BetMGM . The winner will advance to the NFC championship to play either the Philadelphia Eagles or Los Angeles Rams, who meet Sunday afternoon. Follow along below for the latest updates from Lions-Commanders inside Ford Field.
Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders live updates, highlights
Game notes and highlights to come. LiAngelo Ball at Ford Field
One of the hottest music artists in the world right now, rapper LiAngelo Ball, is in the building rocking Honolulu blue from head to toe. Earlier today, a Commanders reporter shared a video of him rapping in an empty Ford Field, potentially hinting at a performance of "Tweaker" at some point tonight.
Barry Sanders headlines Michigan celebrities on sideline
There are a lot of big names in the building tonight. Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders is here after arriving in a custom Ford Mustang. Calvin Johnson and actors Keegan-Michael Key and Dax Shepard are among some of the other notables on the sidelines for warmups.
Lions inactive: Bridgewater at backup QB; David Montgomery officially back
The Lions made a switch at backup quarterback. In the pregame inactive list, Hendon Hooker was listed as the emergency third quarterback, meaning Teddy Bridgewater will be the backup quarterback for the first time. As expected, David Montgomery is back in the lineup from his MCL injury.
Lions arrive to Ford Field in style
Whether it was Amon-Ra St. Brown's racing jacket or Za'Darius Smith's long fur coat, the Detroit Lions wore their best to show up to Ford Field in style.
Lions tailgate scene includes Dan Campbell look-alikes
We've been tracking the
party in downtown Detroit as fans get set for the playoff game, and we found Campbell's doppelgangers. There is also a large security presence outside Ford Field. Temperatures are around 30 degrees a few hours before kickoff in the dome.
Lions vs Commanders divisional round pregame notes
The Lions are trying to make it back to a second consecutive
NFC championship game . Last year, the Lions blew a 17-point halftime lead to the San Francisco 49ers to come up just short of reaching their
first Super Bowl . The Commanders are trying to reach their first conference championship since 1991, where
they beat the Lions 41-10 on their way to winning Super Bowl 26 . The week off did wonders for the Lions,
who will have running back David Montgomery returning to the lineup after he suffered a sprained MCL in Week 15. The Lions didn't miss a beat without him because of Jahmyr Gibbs' electric finish, averaging 121 rushing yards per game in the final three weeks. But, the Lions will have their "tone-setter" back as head coach Dan Campbell described Montgomery this week. The Lions set a
franchise record for wins and combined the
league's highest-scoring offense (33.2 points per game) with an opportunistic defense that is finally starting to get a bit healthier after having more than a dozen players
on injured reserve a month ago. The Commanders have been one of the best stories in football this season. Under new ownership, Washington reshaped the leadership by
appointing Adam Peters as general manager and Dan Quinn as head coach along with finding a new franchise quarterback in Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft.
What channel is Lions vs Commanders?
TV channel: Fox (Ch. 2 in Detroit).
sign up for free trial ).
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) in Detroit (find all
Lions radio affiliates ).
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET.
Where: Ford Field, Detroit.
Lions vs Commanders prediction
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press : Of their four potential divisional playoff matchups, this was the best for the Lions. Daniels is a star in the making and has come up clutch in big moments this year, but he’s flanked by an average offensive cast and is a rookie heading into the most hostile environment in football. The Commanders won’t be a pushover. They’re well-coached and have a formidable front seven. But I don’t see the Lions losing in front of what should be a deafening crowd at Ford Field. Goff can’t turn the ball over like he did against Houston in November or Minnesota earlier this month. But Gibbs is a big play waiting to happen against the Commanders’ porous rush defense, and the Lions are loose and determined not to repeat
last year’s playoff heartbreak .
Pick: Lions 30, Commanders 17. Lions vs Commanders divisional round betting odds
Game lines provided by BetMGM , updated pregame Saturday. Lions vs Commanders injury report
Lions: Right guard Kevin Zeitler is
out with a hamstring injury he picked up late in the Week 18 win over Minnesota. Rookie guard Christian Mahogany will make his second career start. Defensive lineman Pat O'Connor, who hurt his calf in Week 18, is out as is rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who has been on injured reserve.
Commanders: Backup linebacker Jordan Magee is out with a hamstring injury, while linebacker Mykal Walker (illness) and tight end Colson Yankoff (hamstring) are questionable. Linebacker Bobby Wagner (foot) missed two practices this week, but will be available Saturday.
Saturday, Jan 18: Washington in the divisional round. Sunday, Jan. 26:
NFC championship game .
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