Despite their 1-5 record the Lions are favored against the Redskins (4-3) on Sunday. Here are five things the Lions must do to win:

1. Run the ball effectively against the Redskins’ defense. This should be easier now that rookie Jahvid Best’s turf toe is better. The bye week helped and he said he is definitely close to being 100 percent. When Best was feeling good against the Eagles, he had his best game of his young career. He’s hungry for another 100-yard effort.

2. Quarterback Matthew Stafford must step in like he hadn’t missed the last five and a half games. The kid (he’s 22) is so confident that he thinks it will take just one or two plays to get back into the flow. Coach Jim Schwartz has so much faith in his quarterback he expects him to get back into it during pre-game warm-ups.

3. Stafford must be patient and give what the Redskins’ defense gives him. Wide receiver Nate Burleson said this is the offensive game plan. The Redskins are 31st in the NFL against the pass, but DeAngelo Hall can be effective as he showed last week when he had four interceptions against the Bears.

4. The return of middle linebacker DeAndre Levy, who is expected to play, should spark the defense and help out the linebacking group which has been inconsistent in the first six games, in large part because of injury. There’s a good chance fans might get their first look at Bobby Carpenter in a Lions uniform. They’ll be missing Zack Follett for the rest of the season.

5. The secondary must play its best game. After six games, the new guys should know the system. Louis Delmas, whose groin injury has slowed him down, practiced every day this week. The rest during the bye week helped him and many others.

Prediction: Lions 35, Redskins 21

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)