Redskins Gameday

1 p.m.

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

TV: Ch. 5

Radio: ESPN 980

REDSKINS

STARTERS

WR89Santana Moss

LT60Chris Samuels

LG66Pete Kendall

C61Casey Rabach

RG77Randy Thomas

RT76Jon Jansen

TE47Chris Cooley

WR82Antwaan Randle El

QB17Jason Campbell

RB26Clinton Portis

FB45Mike Sellers

LE92Demetric Evans

DT94Anthony Montgomery

DT64Kedric Golston

RE92Andre Carter

OLB52Rocky McIntosh

MLB59London Fletcher

OLB53Marcus Washington

CB27Fred Smoot

CB22Carlos Rogers

SS48Chris Horton

FS30LaRon Landry

K6Shaun Suisham

P14Ryan Plackemeier

PR82Antwaan Randle El

KR31Rock Cartwright

KR83James Thrash

Injuries

RB Ladell Betts (knee), DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder), WR Malcolm Kelly (knee), CB Shawn Springs (calf).

S LaRon Landry (hamstring), RB Clinton Portis (hip), DE Jason Taylor (calf).

S Chris Horton (ankle), G Pete Kendall (knee), CB Carlos Rogers (calf), T Chris Samuels (not injury related), CB Fred Smoot (groin), TE Todd Yoder (thigh).

LIONS

STARTERS

WR84Shaun McDonald

LT76Jeff Backus

LG64 Edwin Mulitalo

C51Dominic Raiola

RG66Stephen Peterman

RT77Gosder Cherilus

TE86Michael Gaines

WR81Calvin Johnson

QB6Dan Orlovsky

RB32Rudi Johnson

FB45Jerome Felton

LE95Jared DeVries

DT91Chuck Darby

DT78Cory Redding

RE99Dewayne White

OLB50Ernie Sims

MLB53Paris Lenon

OLB59Alex Lewis

CB21Travis Fisher

CB28Leigh Bodden

SS27Daniel Bullocks

FS35LaMarcus Hicks

K4Jason Hanson

P2Nick Harris

PR87Mike Furrey

KR87Mike Furrey

KR10Brandon Middleton

Injuries

S Dwight Smith (foot).

LB Jordon Dizon (hamstring).

DT Shaun Cody (elbow), DT Chuck Darby (calf), TE Michael Gaines (knee).

LB Gilbert Gardner (knee), WR Brandon Middleton (hamstring), DT Cory Redding (knee).

KEY MATCHUP

REDSKINS RB CLINTON PORTIS vs. LIONS DEFENSE

Portis can join Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson as the only backs with at least 120 rushing yards in five straight games, and Portis gets a chance to accomplish the feat against the NFL’s second-worst run defense. The winless Lions are allowing a staggering 167.5 rushing yards a game and 4.8 a carry despite the usual heroic efforts of weakside linebacker Ernie Sims, who has 36 solo tackles this season.

Detroit already has been burned by five of the 10 backs who immediately trail Portis, the NFL rushing leader: Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, Atlanta’s Michael Turner, San Francisco’s Frank Gore, Chicago’s Matt Forte and Green Bay’s Ryan Grant. So this matchup against Portis, burly fullback Mike Sellers and a veteran offensive line swings heavily in Washington’s favor.

The troublesome piece for Washington is scoring. Portis is second in the league with seven touchdowns, but his teammates have combined for only eight. The Redskins are averaging only 20 points a game. And although the Lions have been crushed 54-0 in the first quarter this season, the Redskins have scored only 17 points themselves in that period.

The Redskins have dominated the fourth quarter, hence their 5-1 record in games decided by seven or fewer points. Portis has been the main weapon in those tight situations. But neither he nor coach Jim Zorn really wants the running back to keep shouldering quite so much of the offensive load. Sunday’s game should be one in which Portis can share the burden a little.

THREE KEYS

1. Stay focused

The Redskins led Cleveland 14-3 in the fourth quarter last week but needed a last-second field goal try to go wide to keep from playing overtime. Two weeks ago, the Redskins let the winless Rams hang around until St. Louis stunned them with a late 43-yard pass and subsequent game-winning 49-yard field goal. Washington needs to crush winless Detroit early.

2. Take away Johnson

With receiver Roy Williams traded to Dallas and veteran quarterback Jon Kitna on injured reserve, second-year receiver Calvin Johnson (25 catches, 21.2-yard average, four touchdowns) is clearly Detroit’s major weapon. Since Shawn Springs is unlikely to play, fellow cornerback Carlos Rogers will have the task of keeping Johnson under control.

3. Hold on to the ball

After not turning the ball over on offense in an NFL-record five games to start the season, the Redskins killed themselves by losing three fumbles against the Rams. Last week, Clinton Portis nearly negated his 175-yard effort on the ground by fumbling late in Washington territory to set up a Browns touchdown. Washington can’t give Detroit such hope.

THE EDGE

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL

Detroit coach Rod Marinelli can point to controlling Washington running back Clinton Portis in the 2005 wild card game (53 yards on 16 carries), when Marinelli was in his final game as Tampa Bay’s defensive line coach. But as Portis noted the Redskins had no passing game back then. Given the Redskins’ balance on offense (three players with at least 30 catches), it’s not as if the Lions can focus all their defensive energy on Portis. And Detroit is only marginally better (30th vs. 31st) against the pass than the run. The Lions have a respectable 12 sacks but have forced only six turnovers.

Edge: Redskins

WHEN THE LIONS HAVE THE BALL

Detroit might have found a special back in rookie Kevin Smith, who’s averaging 4.9 yards a carry (just behind Portis’ 5.0). However, the former Central Florida player has just 52 carries while splitting time with veteran plodder Rudi Johnson. Dan Orlovsky has been adequate since taking over for the injured Jon Kitna at quarterback, but Orlovsky has been sacked nine times in five games. The Redskins have only nine sacks all season, but maybe this is the game in which end Jason Taylor starts earning his money. The secondary, led by cornerback Carlos Rogers, has been doing that each week and hopes do so again against big and talented receiver Calvin Johnson.

Edge: Redskins

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter Ryan Plackemeier, signed to replace rookie dud Durant Brooks, didn’t have a good Redskins debut last week. Washington’s surprisingly weak coverage hasn’t helped either punter. Detroit has a clear edge with punter Nick Harris and an excellent coverage unit. Veteran kicker Jason Hanson is perfect this season on field goal tries, including 4-for-4 from beyond 50 yards, while Washington’s Shaun Suisham has missed four of 16 attempts. Neither team has much of a punt returner, but the Redskins have the advantage on kickoff returns with Rock Cartwright. The Redskins also have the superior kickoff coverage unit.

Edge: Lions

- David Elfin