The Detroit Lions are looking for their third-straight win today at Ford Field vs. a Washington Redskins team hoping to build upon its own four-game winning streak.
Here are five things to pay attention to today:
BALANCE FOR LIONS OFFENSE
The Lions have the 26th-ranked rushing offense in the NFL through the first six weeks of the season, averaging 88.7 yards per game and 3.8 yards per attempt.
But give Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter credit for sticking with the run week-to-week and forcing defenses to respect it. Only once this season have the Lions failed to run the ball at least 23 times in a game.
The Redskins come in allowing 124.0 yards per game on the ground with a 5.0 average per attempt, so there could be room to roam for Detroit's running backs.
It will be critical for Cooter and Co. to continue to be patient with their run game, and remain balanced on offense.
Redskins outside linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy are a terrific duo on either edge of Washington's defensive front. Each has five sacks on the year.
Can the Lions dictate the pace of play and keep those pass rushers at bay with a balanced attack?
WATCH THE BIG PLAYS
For as inconsistent as the Lions' defense has played this season, they've actually been pretty good limiting big scoring plays in the passing game.
While they've given up 316 yards on passing attempts of more than 20-plus yards, which is a lot, quarterbacks have just a 63.8 passer rating on those attempts and are completing just 40.9 percent of their passes for one touchdown and three interceptions.
Here's the rub, the Redskins come into this contest as one of the top big-play offenses in the NFL.
Their 24 completions of 20-plus yards on the season are the third most in the NFL. They boast a 130.4 passer rating with three touchdowns and no interceptions when throwing the ball down the field 20-plus yards.
No receiver has more 50-yard receptions than DeSean Jackson (33) over the last nine years. To put that number in a bit of perspective, Calvin Johnson had 23 over that span.
This is an offense that will take their shots. The Lions have to know that coming in, and be disciplined on the back end of their defense to contain it.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This game will feature the NFL's No. 1 and No. 2 punt returners in Washington's Jamison Crowder and Detroit's Andre Roberts. Crowder is averaging 20.7 yards per punt return on 10 returns. Roberts has returned eight punts for a 17.8 average. Both have a punt return touchdown on the season.
Detroit's edge in this department is that they employ one of the league's top punters in Sam Martin, who leads the league with a net average of 47.0 yards on 21 punts through the first six games.
Opponents are averaging just 4.8 yards per punt against the Lions this season, and they've faced some pretty good returners, especially the last two weeks in Tavon Austin and Darren Sproles.
DOES STAFFORD STAY HOT?
Stafford has pretty much put the Lions on his back these last two weeks and carried the team to victory.
He's had some help along the way, but his play these last two weeks is the biggest reason why the Lions have clawed back to 3-3 after a 1-3 start.
He's completed 75 percent of his passes (42 of 56) for 460 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions over the last two games. That comes out to a 138.3 passer rating against two pretty good defenses in Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Can he keep it going against a Washington defense that ranks 21st overall and 15th against the pass?
FORMER FA MATCHUP
The two most prized free agent acquisitions for both Washington and Detroit are likely to see a whole lot of each other on Sunday.
Lions receiver Marvin Jones Jr. and Redskins cornerback Josh Norman should be one of the better matchups all game.
Norman has been as good as advertised for the Redskins early this season, and on Sunday he draws another tough matchup in Jones, who has 29 catches for 529 yards and four touchdowns.
Through six games, Jones ranks seventh in the NFL averaging 88.2 receiving yards per game. He ranks sixth with 18.2 yards per catch.
Opponents are completing just 53.8 percent of the passes thrown at Norman this season for a 72.8 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus. He's given up just one touchdown and has defended eight passes with one interception and a forced fumble.
Who will win Sunday's showdown?
The Detroit Lions are looking for their third-straight win today at Ford Field vs. a Washington Redskins team hoping to build upon its own four-game winning streak.
Here are five things to pay attention to today:
BALANCE FOR LIONS OFFENSE
The Lions have the 26th-ranked rushing offense in the NFL through the first six weeks of the season, averaging 88.7 yards per game and 3.8 yards per attempt.
But give Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter credit for sticking with the run week-to-week and forcing defenses to respect it. Only once this season have the Lions failed to run the ball at least 23 times in a game.
The Redskins come in allowing 124.0 yards per game on the ground with a 5.0 average per attempt, so there could be room to roam for Detroit's running backs.
It will be critical for Cooter and Co. to continue to be patient with their run game, and remain balanced on offense.
Redskins outside linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy are a terrific duo on either edge of Washington's defensive front. Each has five sacks on the year.
Can the Lions dictate the pace of play and keep those pass rushers at bay with a balanced attack?
WATCH THE BIG PLAYS
For as inconsistent as the Lions' defense has played this season, they've actually been pretty good limiting big scoring plays in the passing game.
While they've given up 316 yards on passing attempts of more than 20-plus yards, which is a lot, quarterbacks have just a 63.8 passer rating on those attempts and are completing just 40.9 percent of their passes for one touchdown and three interceptions.
Here's the rub, the Redskins come into this contest as one of the top big-play offenses in the NFL.
Their 24 completions of 20-plus yards on the season are the third most in the NFL. They boast a 130.4 passer rating with three touchdowns and no interceptions when throwing the ball down the field 20-plus yards.
No receiver has more 50-yard receptions than DeSean Jackson (33) over the last nine years. To put that number in a bit of perspective, Calvin Johnson had 23 over that span.
This is an offense that will take their shots. The Lions have to know that coming in, and be disciplined on the back end of their defense to contain it.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This game will feature the NFL's No. 1 and No. 2 punt returners in Washington's Jamison Crowder and Detroit's Andre Roberts. Crowder is averaging 20.7 yards per punt return on 10 returns. Roberts has returned eight punts for a 17.8 average. Both have a punt return touchdown on the season.
Detroit's edge in this department is that they employ one of the league's top punters in Sam Martin, who leads the league with a net average of 47.0 yards on 21 punts through the first six games.
Opponents are averaging just 4.8 yards per punt against the Lions this season, and they've faced some pretty good returners, especially the last two weeks in Tavon Austin and Darren Sproles.
DOES STAFFORD STAY HOT?
Stafford has pretty much put the Lions on his back these last two weeks and carried the team to victory.
