When the Washington Commanders head to Detroit to play the Lions on Saturday night in the NFC Divisional Round, the game will be played inside Ford Field. You know, the domed home of the Lions in downtown Detroit for almost 25 years now.
Someone who might not know that: Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. For some reason, Quinn opted to have his Commanders practice outdoors for their Tuesday session. Practice-time temperatures were below freezing, significantly colder and windier than the fan-friendly, climate-controlled stadium where the game will take place.
Commanders practicing outside today. 31 degrees out there. Asked who called for that, DQ said, “Have a good day.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 14, 2025
It harkens back to when Matt Patricia was coaching the Lions. Back in the 2018 season, Patricia had his Detroit team practice outdoors in the snow for a practice ahead of a stretch where the Lions played four straight indoor games. Detroit lost three of those four games.
Quinn has a longer and much more successful coaching track record than Patricia, so perhaps there is some method to his madness. The unconventional practice worked last week for Washington when they practiced indoors for an outdoor road game in Tampa Bay. But it sure conjures up some laughable Lions memories.