| Match Summary | |
| Match | Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders |
| Tournament | NFL Preseason |
| Date | Saturday, August 22, 2026 |
| Time | 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT |
| TV Channels | – |
| Live Stream | Fubo, NFL+ |
How to watch Lions vs Commanders in the USA
Fubo and NFL+ are the options to watch the game in the U.S. NFL+ provides live out-of-market preseason games, although local blackout restrictions can apply. Fubo also carries NFL programming.
Can I watch Lions vs Commanders for free?
Eligible new Fubo subscribers can watch Lions vs. Commanders for free through the 5-day free trial. The platform offers a free-trial option and carries NFL Network, although the exact trial duration and availability can vary by plan.
Match Preview: What’s at stake?
The Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders meet in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason, so the result will not affect the regular-season standings. Instead, the matchup is an important evaluation opportunity with both teams looking to define their rosters before the regular season.
Malik Spencer #36 of the Washington Commanders (Source: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Washington enters the game 1-0 after beating the Miami Dolphins 20-7, while Detroit is 0-1 after a narrow 16-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. For Detroit, Saturday is expected to be a more revealing test than the preseason opener.
Dan Campbell plans to play a significant number of starters, giving players such as Jared Goff and other key contributors an opportunity to get live repetitions before the regular season. The Lions also have several roster battles to monitor, particularly at interior offensive line, slot cornerback and backup quarterback.
Washington has its own important decisions to make, particularly at quarterback and across a defense dealing with several injuries. Jayden Daniels‘ availability remains a major storyline, while Marcus Mariota is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason with an MCL injury.
The Commanders are nevertheless expected to play some of their starters against Detroit, making this a valuable opportunity for the first-team units to gain preseason reps.
What time is the Lions vs Commanders match?
The Lions vs. Commanders game kicks off on Saturday, August 22, at 12:00 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:
- Eastern Time: 12:00 PM ET
- Central Time: 11:00 AM CT
- Mountain Time: 10:00 AM MT
- Pacific Time: 9:00 AM PT
