Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1:00 pm from Ford Field.
LEADERS
WAS: Campbell (68.9 comp. %, 453 yds, 1 td, 1 int.), Portis (35 carries for 141 yds, 4.0 ave., 0 tds), Cooley (14 catches for 151 yds, 10.8 ave., 1 td), Randle El (11 catches for 137 yds, 12.5 ave, 0 tds)
DET: Stafford (50.7 comp. %, 357 yds, 1 td, 5 int.), K. Smith (39 carries for 103 yds, 2.6 ave., 1 td), C. Johnson (8 catches for 141 yds, 17.6 ave., 1 td), K. Smith (9 catches for 62 yds, 6.9 ave., 0 tds)
PREVIEW
The Lions come into this game with a rookie QB, one of the league's worst defenses, and a RB averaging less than three yards a carry. Oh, and there's the matter of a 19-game losing streak.
The Skins, on the other hand, have a QB completing almost 70% of his passes and a defense giving up just 15 points and less than 300 total yards per game.
No brainer? Far from it.
The Lions smell blood this week, a chance to get the consecutive-loss monkey off their collective backs. First year coach Jim Schwartz is standing by his QB, Matthew Stafford, despite leading the league in picks through two games.
"He's our quarterback," Schwartz said Monday. "We're pleased with him. He's going to be a very good quarterback in this league and we're going to win with him."
Detroit passed on USC QB Mark Sanchez, long thought to be the apple in Daniel Snyder's eye, but went to the New York Jets instead. The Jets -- and Sanchez -- are 2-0.
The Lions have surrendered 72 points thus far in losses to New Orleans and Minnesota, and give up 4.5 yards per rushing attempt. To make matters worse, they lost one of their leading tacklers, LB Ernie Sims, with a shoulder injury.
Washington enters this game perhaps relieved to be on the road, after suffering boos and cat calls all afternoon in their 9-7 win over St, Louis at home last week. Coach Jim Zorn was under particular scrutiny for some questionable play calls in the red zone, leading to just three Shaun Suisham field goals and a turnover on down deep in St. Louis territory.
The Skins have managed just 26 points in two games.
RB Clinton Portis announced this week that "We're all on the hot seat," and looks to achieve his third 100-yard rushing day against the Lions franchise. He's averaging 4.0 yards per carry, but has yet to reach the end zone.
That task may have been made that more difficult due to the torn triceps of starting guard Randy Thomas. Thomas was placed on the I.R. and will be replaced by a combination of Chad Rinehart and Will Montgomery.
The defense has allowed 30 points in two games, but only has two sacks and is 18th against both the run and pass. One of the teams' stated goals this week is to pressure Stafford, a rookie making his third NFL start, into continuing the pattern of throwing interceptions; he has five in two games and has been sacked three times.
WEATHER
Indoor. 72F.
PREDICTION
The Redskins have had much difficulty in the red zone this season, and the Loins have surrendered 36 points per game. Sounds like the prefect panacea, but the Skins have to show it first before we'll buy into it. I think the Skins win this one, but far from convincingly. Skins 19-14.
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