Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions: 2022 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-09-18, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 36–27 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 22 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Wentz (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with +5.22 total EPA, and +0.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Dotson (Washington Commanders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.47 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+12.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (10:18) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 14-A.St. Brown pushed ob at WAS 24 for 49 yards (22-D.Forrest).

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. Dotson · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +6.47 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Samuel · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +5.29 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Wentz · Washington Commanders · Passing · +5.22 total EPA · 55 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
4. 4 A.St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.51 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Reynolds · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.47 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Swift · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.18 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
7. 7 J. McKissic · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
8. 8 St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +2.96 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.48 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

• Detroit Lions — A. St (J. Goff pass) (Q1 46:45)
• Detroit Lions — J. Reynolds (J. Goff pass) (Q2 36:47)
• Washington Commanders — C. Samuel (C. Wentz pass) (Q3 28:03)
• Washington Commanders — L. Thomas (C. Wentz pass) (Q3 18:04)
• Detroit Lions — D. Swift (J. Goff pass) (Q3 16:38)
• Washington Commanders — A. Gibson (Q4 10:44)
• Detroit Lions — A. St (J. Goff pass) (Q4 7:05)
• Washington Commanders — J. Dotson (C. Wentz pass) (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — A. Seibert (Q1 53:10)
• Detroit Lions — A. Seibert (Q2 43:51)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 12–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the WAS 17 (Q1 53:10) — (8:10) 19-A.Seibert 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions registered a safety from the DET 95 (Q1 48:22); Detroit Lions found the end zone from the WAS 13 (Q1 46:45) — (1:45) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 14-A.St. Brown for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-M.Sweat].; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q1 46:40) — 19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the WAS 30 (Q2 43:51) — (13:51) 19-A.Seibert 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the WAS 3 (Q2 36:47) — (6:47) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 8-J.Reynolds for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q2 36:43) — 19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The third quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 15–7. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 15 (Q3 28:03) — (13:03) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short left to 10-C.Samuel for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 27:58) — 6-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 20 (Q3 18:04) — (3:04) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass deep middle to 82-L.Thomas for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders registered a safety from the DET 2 (Q3 17:58) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 11-C.Wentz pass to 1-J.Dotson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the WAS 22 (Q3 16:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 32-D.Swift for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN [52-J.Davis].; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q3 16:28) — 19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 12–7. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 10:44) — (10:44) (Shotgun) 24-A.Gibson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the WAS 11 (Q4 7:05) — (7:05) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 7:00) — 19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short middle to 1-J.Dotson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 55:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 14-A.St. Brown pushed ob at WAS 24 for 49 yards (22-D.Forrest). [WPA +12.5% · EPA +4.05]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 17:58) — (2:58) 14-A.St. Brown right end to WAS 17 for 58 yards (25-B.St-Juste). [WPA +8.0% · EPA +3.55]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 16:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 32-D.Swift for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN [52-J.Davis]. [WPA +7.1% · EPA +3.77]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 49:07) — (4:07) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass incomplete short left to 4-D.Chark (29-K.Fuller) [95-C.Toohill]. [WPA -6.9% · EPA -3.17]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 46:45) — (1:45) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 14-A.St. Brown for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-M.Sweat]. [WPA +6.4% · EPA +2.58]

Impact plays

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

• Washington Commanders (Q3 25:13) — (10:13) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass deep middle intended for 82-L.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 25-W.Harris at DET 20. 25-W.Harris to DET 20 for no gain (82-L.Thomas). [WPA -3.8% · EPA -4.18]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 55:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 14-A.St. Brown pushed ob at WAS 24 for 49 yards (22-D.Forrest). [WPA +12.5% · EPA +4.05]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 16:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 32-D.Swift for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN [52-J.Davis]. [WPA +7.1% · EPA +3.77]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 17:58) — (2:58) 14-A.St. Brown right end to WAS 17 for 58 yards (25-B.St-Juste). [WPA +8.0% · EPA +3.55]

Quarterback report card

C.Wentz led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Wentz (Washington Commanders) · 55 dropbacks · 54.5% completion · +0.5% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +5.22 total EPA
• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 37 dropbacks · 54.1% completion · -6.6% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.22 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Detroit Lions held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.09 vs -0.01), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Detroit Lions: 14 drives, +7.09 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 14 drives, -1.21 total EPA, 5 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.
• J. Dotson (Washington Commanders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Goff (DET) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 53:10 · WAS 17 · Score 0-3
   (8:10) 19-A.Seibert 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
2. Detroit Lions Safety (+2) — Q1 48:22 · DET 95 · Score 0-5
   (3:22) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz sacked at WAS -4 for -9 yards (53-C.Harris). FUMBLES (53-C.Harris) [53-C.Harris], touched at WAS -7, ball out of bounds in End Zone,
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 46:45 · WAS 13 · Score 0-11
   (1:45) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 14-A.St. Brown for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-M.Sweat].
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 46:40 · WAS 15 · Score 0-12
   19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
5. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 43:51 · WAS 30 · Score 0-15
   (13:51) 19-A.Seibert 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
6. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 36:47 · WAS 3 · Score 0-21
   (6:47) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 8-J.Reynolds for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 36:43 · WAS 15 · Score 0-22
   19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
8. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q3 28:03 · DET 15 · Score 6-22
   (13:03) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short left to 10-C.Samuel for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q3 27:58 · DET 15 · Score 7-22
   6-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way.
10. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q3 18:04 · DET 20 · Score 13-22
    (3:04) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass deep middle to 82-L.Thomas for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Washington Commanders Safety (+2) — Q3 17:58 · DET 2 · Score 15-22
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 11-C.Wentz pass to 1-J.Dotson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 16:38 · WAS 22 · Score 15-28
    (1:38) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 32-D.Swift for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN [52-J.Davis].
13. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 16:28 · WAS 15 · Score 15-29
    19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
14. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 10:44 · DET 1 · Score 21-29
    (10:44) (Shotgun) 24-A.Gibson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 7:05 · WAS 11 · Score 21-35
    (7:05) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 7:00 · WAS 15 · Score 21-36
    19-A.Seibert extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
17. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · DET 1 · Score 27-36
    (2:00) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short middle to 1-J.Dotson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.