Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions Picks and Prediction for Saturday August 22, 2026

The Washington Commanders travel to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, to face the Detroit Lions in NFL preseason Week 2 on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET. Washington enters the matchup at 1-0 after defeating Miami 20-7 in its preseason opener, while Detroit is 0-1 following a narrow 16-14 loss at Cincinnati. Get in on all the action before it starts with our free NFL picks.

The betting market has Detroit favored by 4.5 points, with Washington +4.5. The total is 37.5 points, while Detroit is around -210 on the moneyline and Washington +176. For this preview, we'll use Washington +4.5 and Under 37.5 as the betting selections.

Commanders Bring Defensive Momentum to Detroit

Washington opened the preseason with a 20-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins, and the Commanders' defense was particularly encouraging after Miami's opening possession. Washington settled down after allowing the Dolphins to score on their first drive and prevented them from scoring again. That defensive response is important heading into another game in which backups and players competing for roster positions should see significant playing time.

The Commanders also gradually found an offensive rhythm despite an uneven beginning. Marcus Mariota exited early, which brought Sam Hartman into the game sooner than expected. Hartman's first two possessions ended with a punt and an interception, but he improved considerably afterward. Washington eventually finished with 21 first downs and converted 47% of its third downs. Hartman helped lead consecutive touchdown drives, with Kaytron Allen finishing one of them on the ground.

There is plenty to like about Washington's Week 1 performance from a preseason handicapping perspective. The Commanders didn't need their offense to be spectacular because their defense kept Miami off the scoreboard after the opening drive. They also demonstrated that the reserve offense could improve as the game progressed. Washington now catches more than a field goal against a Detroit team that committed three turnovers in its opener, making the Commanders an interesting underdog.

Lions Look to Clean Up Week 1 Mistakes

Detroit opened its preseason with a 16-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but the final score doesn't completely reflect how competitive the Lions were. Detroit primarily opened with reserves while Cincinnati used its starters for a couple of series, yet the Lions limited the Bengals to an early field goal. Detroit ultimately generated 274 total yards compared with Cincinnati's 256, but mistakes prevented the Lions from turning that statistical advantage into a victory.

Rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer completed 13 of 22 passes for 130 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble on an exchange during the rainy conditions. Josh Dobbs went 4-of-8 for 32 yards. Altmyer produced Detroit's best offensive sequence late in the fourth quarter, directing a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive and throwing a 24-yard scoring pass to Tarik Black before running in the two-point conversion. Detroit couldn't recover the ensuing onside kick, ending its comeback attempt.

There were encouraging individual performances despite the loss. Jacob Saylors rushed eight times for 55 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, and added three receptions for 28 yards. Defensively, Ahmed Hassanein recorded four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Detroit's biggest problem was ball security and situational execution: the Lions lost the turnover battle 3-1, went 4-for-11 on third down and failed on their only fourth-down attempt. Cleaning up those areas could produce a better Week 2 performance, but laying 4.5 points requires more confidence than Detroit's opener provided.

Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions Picks and Prediction

Pick: Washington Commanders +4.5

I'm taking Washington +4.5. Detroit actually outgained Cincinnati in Week 1 and has some promising depth pieces, but three turnovers and a 4-for-11 third-down performance make laying more than a field goal difficult. Washington won its opener by 13 points, allowed only seven, converted 47% of its third downs and improved offensively as the game progressed. Detroit could certainly win at Ford Field, but Washington +4.5 provides the better betting value in a matchup that has the ingredients for a one-score finish.

Pick: Under 37.5

The total pick is Under 37.5. Washington's defense surrendered seven points in Week 1 and shut Miami out after its opening touchdown drive, while Detroit's offense scored only 14 points and struggled to sustain possessions consistently. Detroit's three turnovers also illustrate the volatility that comes with preseason quarterback rotations. With both teams showing more encouraging signs defensively than offensively in their respective openers, Under 37.5 is the preferred total.

Prediction: Detroit Lions 19, Washington Commanders 17