Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders: 2007 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-10-07, the Washington Commanders took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 34–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Kitna (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with -18.78 total EPA, and -11.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Campbell (Washington Commanders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +20.09 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Washington Commanders changed the game: (8:01) (Shotgun) 26-C.Portis FUMBLES (Aborted) at DET 29, and recovers at DET 40. 26-C.Portis to DET 40 for no gain (78-C.Redding).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Campbell · Washington Commanders · Passing · +20.09 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
2. 2 A.Randle El · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +9.99 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Cooley · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +5.16 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Sellers · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +4.21 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.40 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Williams · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.08 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Portis · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.86 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
7. 7 K. McCardell · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.32 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Bradley · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +1.45 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.45 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Washington Commanders — C. Cooley (J. Campbell pass) (Q2 38:23)
• Washington Commanders — M. Sellers (Q2 32:00)
• Washington Commanders — M. Sellers (J. Campbell pass) (Q4 10:54)
• Washington Commanders — C. Rogers (Q4 0:57)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q3 17:32)
• Washington Commanders — S. Suisham (Q4 3:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 14–0. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 7 (Q2 38:23) — (8:23) 17-J.Campbell pass short left to 47-C.Cooley for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 38:17) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 45-M.Sellers left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 31:56) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–2. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the WAS 21 (Q3 17:32) — (2:32) 4-J.Hanson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Washington Commanders registered a safety from the WAS 93 (Q3 15:35) — (:35) 8-J.Kitna sacked in End Zone for -7 yards, SAFETY (99-A.Carter)..

The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 18–0. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 8 (Q4 10:54) — (10:54) 17-J.Campbell pass short right to 45-M.Sellers for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders registered a safety from the DET 2 (Q4 10:47) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 17-J.Campbell pass to 47-C.Cooley is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the DET 10 (Q4 3:10) — (3:10) 6-S.Suisham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the WAS 43 (Q4 0:57); Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 0:45) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Washington Commanders (Q1 53:01) — (8:01) (Shotgun) 26-C.Portis FUMBLES (Aborted) at DET 29, and recovers at DET 40. 26-C.Portis to DET 40 for no gain (78-C.Redding). [WPA -9.3% · EPA -2.98]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 32:45) — (2:45) 17-J.Campbell pass short left to 82-A.Randle El to DET 1 for 37 yards (50-E.Sims). WAS-82-A.Randle El was injured during the play. He is Out. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +5.46]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 40:55) — (10:55) 17-J.Campbell pass short middle to 82-A.Randle El to DET 25 for 16 yards (25-F.Bryant). [WPA +7.5% · EPA +1.72]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 42:18) — (12:18) (Shotgun) 17-J.Campbell pass short left to 47-C.Cooley to DET 39 for 9 yards (54-T.Lehman, 42-G.Alexander). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +1.68]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 57:37) — (12:37) (Shotgun) 17-J.Campbell pass short middle to 26-C.Portis to WAS 45 for 11 yards (99-D.White). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +1.96]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:57) — (:57) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-J.Kitna pass short left intended for 87-M.Furrey INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Rogers at WAS 39. 22-C.Rogers for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA -8.79]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 32:45) — (2:45) 17-J.Campbell pass short left to 82-A.Randle El to DET 1 for 37 yards (50-E.Sims). WAS-82-A.Randle El was injured during the play. He is Out. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +5.46]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 11:16) — (11:16) 2-N.Harris punts 51 yards to WAS 13, Center-48-D.Muhlbach. 83-J.Thrash to DET 25 for 62 yards (54-T.Lehman). FUMBLES (54-T.Lehman), touched at DET 3, recovered by WAS-31-R.Cartwright at DET 3. [WPA -2.4% · EPA -5.31]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 13:51) — (13:51) 26-C.Portis right end to DET 14 for 4 yards (25-F.Bryant). FUMBLES (25-F.Bryant), RECOVERED by DET-42-G.Alexander at DET 10. 42-G.Alexander ran ob at DET 10 for no gain. [WPA -1.9% · EPA -4.00]

Quarterback report card

J.Kitna led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Kitna (Detroit Lions) · 37 dropbacks · 43.2% completion · -11.2% CPOE · -0.51 EPA/play · -18.78 total EPA
• J.Campbell (Washington Commanders) · 30 dropbacks · 76.7% completion · +17.2% CPOE · +0.67 EPA/play · +20.09 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Washington Commanders held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.11 vs -0.32), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Detroit Lions: 12 drives, -22.35 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 11 drives, +8.89 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Washington Commanders leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Campbell (Washington Commanders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Kitna (DET) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Campbell (WAS) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 38:23 · DET 7 · Score 0-6
   (8:23) 17-J.Campbell pass short left to 47-C.Cooley for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q2 38:17 · DET 2 · Score 0-7
   6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost.
3. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · DET 1 · Score 0-13
   (2:00) 45-M.Sellers left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q2 31:56 · DET 2 · Score 0-14
   6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost.
5. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q3 17:32 · WAS 21 · Score 3-14
   (2:32) 4-J.Hanson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
6. Washington Commanders Safety (+2) — Q3 15:35 · WAS 93 · Score 3-16
   (:35) 8-J.Kitna sacked in End Zone for -7 yards, SAFETY (99-A.Carter).
7. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 10:54 · DET 8 · Score 3-22
   (10:54) 17-J.Campbell pass short right to 45-M.Sellers for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Washington Commanders Safety (+2) — Q4 10:47 · DET 2 · Score 3-24
   (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 17-J.Campbell pass to 47-C.Cooley is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
9. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 3:10 · DET 10 · Score 3-27
   (3:10) 6-S.Suisham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost.
10. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 0:57 · WAS 43 · Score 3-33
    (:57) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-J.Kitna pass short left intended for 87-M.Furrey INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Rogers at WAS 39. 22-C.Rogers for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q4 0:45 · DET 2 · Score 3-34
    6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost.