Detroit Game Preview

I think we'd all feel a lot better about this game if Lito Sheppard were healthy.  Having Dawk at 100 percent would be nice too.  And it sure would be great if Sean Considine could be completely healed by the time he takes the field Sunday.

Other than that, heading into a game against the league's number one passing attack, the Eagles secondary looks great.

There are lots and lots of ways the Eagles could lose this game.  Their offense could stagnate again.  They could lose a shootout.  A depleted secondary could force Jim Johnson to stay conservative in his calls, opening up a lot of room in the running game when the Eagles get too spread out.  An 0-2 start means we can see the spooks around every corner.  Nothing's taking us by surprise at this point.

There are, however, two things about this game that are different from what the Eagles have faced so far.  Both provide reason for hope.

The first difference is that the Lions really don't have a very good defense.  Both the Packers and the Redskins rolled out above-average defenses with very good secondaries.  The Lions are the opposite: a well-below-average defense with a very poor secondary.

Now, with as many points as that offense can score, the defense doesn't have to be great.  They just need to slow people down every once in awhile.  But facing this team should still be enough to allow the Eagles' offense to get on track.  (And by the way, I've always been convinced that it was "on track," not "untracked."  But see here for a counter-thought.  If the New York Times said it in 1927...)

Obviously, the big concern will be Brian Westbrook's knee.  If he's in any way hobbled, that's an enormous hit against the offense, particularly since LJ Smith might finally agree to pull the plug for awhile.  But if the offense can't get it going this week, no one will be able to claim that it was because the receivers couldn't get open.

On the other side of the ball, the Lions' receivers are obviously very, very scary.  The thought of Joselio Hanson or Nick Graham matching up against Roy Williams or Calvin Johnson is almost too terrifying to contemplate.  But there's good news as well.

As mentioned in the Redskins video rewind, the Washington coaches did everything possible to take the pressure off of Jason Campbell.  Lots of quick drops, no standing around in the pocket.  This neutralized the Eagles' pass rush and frustrated the big guys most of the game.

The Lions aren't going to do that.  Mike Martz wants to air it out and get the ball down the field.  His guys need time to run those routes, which means Kitna's going to have to sit there and wait awhile for them to get open.  Maybe the Eagles' banged-up secondary struggles in coverage all day, but this week there should be plenty of time to get to the quarterback.  Because that's really the type of defense the Eagles like to play, I think that's a good sign.

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As for how this game is going to play out, who knows?  I don't think you can definitively say which Eagles' team is going to show up Sunday.  Hopefully they come out firing and it's a good, formative experience for the young guys.  Hopefully.

Eagles -- 34
Lions -- 31   

Comments

[Brian Hudson]

Eagles -- 34
Lions -- 31

Are you kidding me? Let me give you my prediction, and then I'll tell you why:

Lions -- 35
Eagels --3

The reason the Eagles are going to lose this game and most of their games this season is very simple: Eagles fans don't deserve a winning team. They are the most disgusting breed of degenerate, mouth-breathing, blue-collar, Wanna-be-New-York, peices of trash I've ever seen. Seriously, you Eagles fans think you've struck gold with this "We're such mean and nasty fans and it's so cool" attitude, that you've failed to remember one important fact:

The Eagles have NEVER won a Super Bowl ! !

How can you idiots be so loud when there's really nothing to be loud about in Eagle Country. The words Eagles and Losers are one in the same. When ever I'm playing ball or cards and I win I say "Dude, your such an Eagle."

So anyhow - It's time for me to go, but I'll leave you with this cheer:

L - O - S - E - R - S - LOSERS ! ! !

Ahhhhhh-Haaaaaaaahhhhh-Haaaaaahhhhhh ! ! !

[Me]

How many Super Bowl appearances has Detroit made?

I always find it amusing and ironic when some asshole fan of another team shows up to voice his opinion that Eagles fans are assholes.

Self-awareness, anyone?

[BrianS]

I'm guessing this guy is a Cowboys fan who got lost. I wouldn't expect a Lions fan to get so smug so fast.

[BrianS]

Hey Brian H -- nice job on your prediction!

You were only off by 53.