Redskins vs. Lions preview: Matchups to watch, score prediction, more

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 23: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins looks for running yards while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 23, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan Detroit won the game 20-17. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 23: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins looks for running yards while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 23, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan Detroit won the game 20-17. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 17: Jeff Driskel #2 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboysat Ford Field on November 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 17: Jeff Driskel #2 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboysat Ford Field on November 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Redskins defense vs. Lions offense

The Redskins will face Jeff Driskel instead of Matthew Stafford. Anytime you get out of playing Matthew Stafford, it should be viewed as a positive. But Driskel is a competent quarterback in his own right, and he has a bevy of weapons at his disposal.

Through two starts, Driskel is 0-2, but he’s produced at a fairly efficient clip. He has four total touchdowns to just one interception, and through two games, he has almost 100 yards on the ground. Driskel is a threat as a runner, and the Redskins defense has had trouble with those kinds of quarterbacks in the past.

Driskel isn’t alone on the Lions offense, either. The receiving core is stacked with names like Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola, and Marvin Hall, who’s emerged as a deep threat for the Lions this season. Given Washington’s frequent communication issues on the back end, Detroit’s fairly dynamic receiving core could have some success on Sunday.

From a talent perspective, the Redskins have a slight edge in the trenches, but so far this season, Washington’s defensive front has underachieved, and they allowed Sam Darnold to throw for four touchdowns while going up against a subpar Jets line. Signs point to the Lions enjoying a fairly productive day at FedEx Field, so long as they can stay out of their own way. That’s never a guarantee with the Lions, of course.