Game story
In Week 3 of the 2013 NFL season on 2013-09-22, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
R.Griffin III (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with -1.75 total EPA, and +2.4% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.80 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-16.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (9:31) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Hall at DET 17. 23-D.Hall for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 27 |
| Washington Commanders | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 M. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +13.80 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
- 2 J. Bell · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +6.61 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.32 EPA/play
- 3 N. Burleson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.03 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
- 4 S. Moss · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.43 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
- 5 J. Morgan · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.18 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
- 6 L. Paulsen · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
- 7 R. Helu · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
- 8 C. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.96 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
M. Stafford — DET · Passing
M. Stafford posted the highest total EPA (+13.80) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Detroit Lions's efficiency. Across 44 counted snaps, they averaged +0.31 EPA per play.
The signature play (-6.45 EPA) came from Detroit Lions: (9:31) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Hall at DET 17. 23-D.Hall for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Washington Commanders — D. Hall
- Detroit Lions — J. Bell
- Detroit Lions — J. Fauria (M. Stafford pass)
- Washington Commanders — A. Morris
- Detroit Lions — C. Johnson (M. Stafford pass)
Field goals
- Detroit Lions — D. Akers
- Washington Commanders — J. Potter
- Detroit Lions — D. Akers
- Washington Commanders — J. Potter
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the WAS 91 (Q1 54:31); Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 54:23) — 1-J.Potter extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the WAS 12 (Q1 50:20) — (5:20) (Shotgun) 35-J.Bell right guard for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q1 50:14) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..
The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the WAS 5 (Q2 44:53) — (14:53) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 80-J.Fauria for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q2 44:47) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 30 (Q2 33:38) — (3:38) 46-A.Morris right end for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 33:29) — 1-J.Potter extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the WAS 14 (Q2 30:49) — (:49) 2-D.Akers 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..
The third quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 3–0. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the DET 25 (Q3 27:16) — (12:16) 1-J.Potter 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca..
The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–3. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the WAS 10 (Q4 11:13) — (11:13) 2-D.Akers 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the WAS 11 (Q4 4:02) — (4:02) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 81-C.Johnson for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q4 3:56) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the DET 3 (Q4 1:44) — (1:44) 1-J.Potter 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Detroit Lions (Q1 54:31) — (9:31) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Hall at DET 17. 23-D.Hall for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Detroit Lions (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 13-N.Burleson pushed ob at WAS 28 for 41 yards (31-B.Meriweather).
- Detroit Lions (Q4 12:13) — (12:13) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 13-N.Burleson to WAS 10 for 47 yards (59-L.Fletcher).
- Washington Commanders (Q2 33:38) — (3:38) 46-A.Morris right end for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Washington Commanders (Q2 39:07) — (9:07) 10-R.Griffin pass short right intended for 88-P.Garcon INTERCEPTED by 23-C.Houston [79-W.Young] at DET 13. 23-C.Houston to DET 17 for 4 yards (88-P.Garcon).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Detroit Lions (Q1 54:31) — (9:31) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Hall at DET 17. 23-D.Hall for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Detroit Lions (Q1 53:33) — (8:33) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 35-J.Bell to WAS 48 for 37 yards (26-J.Wilson) [56-P.Riley]. PENALTY on WAS-56-P.Riley, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at WAS 48.
- Washington Commanders (Q2 39:07) — (9:07) 10-R.Griffin pass short right intended for 88-P.Garcon INTERCEPTED by 23-C.Houston [79-W.Young] at DET 13. 23-C.Houston to DET 17 for 4 yards (88-P.Garcon).
- Washington Commanders (Q2 33:38) — (3:38) 46-A.Morris right end for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Quarterback report card
R.Griffin III led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- R.Griffin III (Washington Commanders) · 57 dropbacks · 56.1% completion · +2.4% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.75 total EPA
- M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 44 dropbacks · 56.8% completion · +1.1% CPOE · +0.31 EPA/play · +13.80 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Detroit Lions | Washington Commanders |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.157 | +0.040 |
| Offensive success rate | 46.5% | 44.8% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.314 | -0.031 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.141 | +0.056 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.040 | -0.157 |
| Defensive success rate | 55.2% | 53.5% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Detroit Lions generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.16 vs +0.04), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Detroit Lions: 12 drives, +13.49 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
- Washington Commanders: 13 drives, +3.81 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q1 54:31 · WAS 91 · Score 0-6
(9:31) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Hall at DET 17. 23-D.Hall for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q1 54:23 · DET 2 · Score 0-7
1-J.Potter extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca. - Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 50:20 · WAS 12 · Score 6-7
(5:20) (Shotgun) 35-J.Bell right guard for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 50:14 · WAS 2 · Score 7-7
2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. - Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 44:53 · WAS 5 · Score 13-7
(14:53) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 80-J.Fauria for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 44:47 · WAS 2 · Score 14-7
2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. - Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 33:38 · DET 30 · Score 14-13
(3:38) 46-A.Morris right end for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q2 33:29 · DET 2 · Score 14-14
1-J.Potter extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca. - Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:49 · WAS 14 · Score 17-14
(:49) 2-D.Akers 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. - Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q3 27:16 · DET 25 · Score 17-17
(12:16) 1-J.Potter 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca. - Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 11:13 · WAS 10 · Score 20-17
(11:13) 2-D.Akers 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. - Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 4:02 · WAS 11 · Score 26-17
(4:02) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 81-C.Johnson for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 3:56 · WAS 2 · Score 27-17
2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. - Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 1:44 · DET 3 · Score 27-20
(1:44) 1-J.Potter 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders?
The Detroit Lions beat the Washington Commanders 27-20 in Week 3, 2013 on 2013-09-22.
What was the final score of Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders?
The final score was Detroit Lions 27, Washington Commanders 20 (DET 27-20 WAS) in Week 3, 2013 on 2013-09-22.
What was the score by quarter in Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders?
Q1: Detroit Lions 7, Washington Commanders 7; Q2: Detroit Lions 10, Washington Commanders 7; Q3: Detroit Lions 0, Washington Commanders 3; Q4: Detroit Lions 10, Washington Commanders 3; Final: Detroit Lions 27, Washington Commanders 20.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders?
Washington Commanders touchdown — D. Hall (Q1 54:31) Detroit Lions touchdown — J. Bell (Q1 50:20) Detroit Lions touchdown — J. Fauria (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 44:53) Washington Commanders touchdown — A. Morris (Q2 33:38) Detroit Lions touchdown — C. Johnson (M. Stafford pass) (Q4 4:02) Detroit Lions field goal — D. Akers (Q2 30:49, 3 pts) Washington Commanders field goal — J. Potter (Q3 27:16, 3 pts) Detroit Lions field goal — D. Akers (Q4 11:13, 3 pts) Washington Commanders field goal — J. Potter (Q4 1:44, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders?
R.Griffin III (Washington Commanders), 56.1% completion, +2.4% CPOE, -0.03 EPA per dropback, -1.75 total passing EPA. M. Stafford (Detroit Lions), 56.8% completion, +1.1% CPOE, +0.31 EPA per dropback, +13.80 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders?
M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) led the game in total EPA with +13.80 on passing plays. across 44 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-6.45 EPA): (9:31) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Hall at DET 17. 23-D.Hall for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was -16.4%.
Was Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders a close game?
Yes — the margin was 7 points. Detroit Lions won 27-20 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Detroit Lions
Entered 1-1 Now 2-1 W
Washington Commanders
Entered 0-2 Now 0-3 L
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