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    Commanders vs. Lions NFL Week 2 odds: Detroit favored for first time in Dan Campbell era

    The Detroit Lions are betting favorites for Week 2 against Washington.
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    Do you remember what you were doing on Nov. 22, 2020? That date is the last time the Detroit Lions had been betting favorites in a regular-season game, but they have opened -2.5 at Caesars Sportsbook for this Sunday's home game against the Washington Commanders, thus marking the first time the team is favored under head coach Dan Campbell. Detroit has played 24 straight games as an underdog, the longest active streak in the NFL and longest for the Lions in the Super Bowl era.

    The last time the Lions were home favorites was Nov. 15, 2020 against this same Washington team. Detroit won that game 30-27. While Detroit lost 38-35 this past Sunday at home vs. Philadelphia, it did manage a backdoor cover thanks to a Jared Goff 22-yard touchdown pass to DJ Chark with 3:51 left. The Eagles led 31-14 early in the third quarter. Philadelphia sealed the win on Jalen Hurts' quarterback sneak that converted a fourth-and-1 from the Detroit 40 with 50 seconds left.

    Lions No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson remains the +500 favorite at Caesars to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors even though the former Michigan star and 2021 Heisman Trophy runner-up was pretty quiet in his debut with just one assisted tackle. There were multiple times when Hutchinson got a hand on Hurts but couldn't complete the sack. Another rookie, sixth-round linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, was the Detroit defense's highest-graded performer via Pro Football Focus with six tackles. He's not a betting option at Caesars for DROY. Rodriguez already is a bit of a fan favorite after being prominently featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks."

    The Lions haven't been very successful in close games under Campbell. They have seven losses in one-score games since the start of 2021, tied with the Panthers for second-most in the league. Detroit's .250 winning percentage (2-7-1 record) in such games ranks fifth-worst in the NFL in that span.

    Washington rallied in Week 1 for a 28-22 home win over Jacksonville. In his Commanders regular-season debut, quarterback Carson Wentz threw for 313 yards and four scores but also two picks. It was Wentz's first four-TD game since the day he tore the ACL in his left knee while with the Eagles in 2017. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen suffered a groin injury that required an MRI on Monday, but Allen said he was fine. He had three tackles and a sack vs. the Jaguars.

    Another defensive tackle, second-round rookie Phidarian Mathis, suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Commanders placed Mathis on injured reserve Monday and signed defensive tackle Donovan Jeter in a corresponding move.

    The New York Giants hold the second-longest active streak as an underdog at 15 straight games, but they opened as 2.5-point favorites Sunday against the visiting Panthers.

    Looking for the best picks against the spread, sharp plays on the total and props you can take straight to the pay window? Join Jonathan Coachman on The Early Edge as he speaks with SportsLine's top handicappers to preview the day's biggest games. We promise to keep it short and sweet and to put some green in your pocket. The Early Edge is in your feed every single day by 11 a.m. ET. Subscribe right here on YouTube to watch daily, plus don't miss The Early Edge specials and live shows!

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