Lions at Eagles -- Week 6
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (Grass, outdoors)
Forecast: Sunny, 72 degrees at kickoff.
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Spread: Eagles by 5
2012 records: Lions (Overall: 1-3, NFC North: 0-1); Eagles (Overall: 3-2, NFC East 1-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- September, 19, 2010: Eagles 35, Lions 32; September 23, 2007: Eagles 56, Lions 21. Series record: Eagles lead 16-12-2 .
What matters: The Lions must get a win Sunday to get their season on track. To do that, Detroit must correct three areas that have faltered during their three-game losing streak:
• Early scoring: The Lions and Eagles have had difficulty scoring before halftime. Detroit has yet to lead at the break, and the Eagles have been outscored 57-24. It's not that the Lions can't move the ball -- they're third in the league in total offense -- but because of an inability to convert drives into touchdowns. Of nine first-half scores, eight are Jason Hanson field goals. The Lions need a touchdown early Sunday, especially playing in difficult road environment.
• Special teams’ coverage: Special teams’ play has cost the Lions in their past two games, allowing two return touchdowns in consecutive weeks. Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman described himself as a teacher who had half of his students fail his exams. Crossman’s class is in session again Sunday, and his students must get a passing grade to beat the Eagles.
• Turnover margin: The defense has forced just three turnovers, and has yet to make an interception. Fortunately, the Eagles have battled ball security this season. Philadelphia QB Michael Vick has thrown six interceptions, and the Eagles have lost eight fumbles in five games. If Detroit wins the turnover battle, chances are they’ll win the game as well.
Who matters: Although the offense gets most of the attention, Sunday's game may well hinge on the defensive line’s ability to contain Vick and RB LeSean McCoy. McCoy’s ability to find open space outside the tackles has the Eagles’ offense among the league leaders in 20-plus yard gains. Vick isn’t afraid to move outside the pocket to extent plays and allow his receivers to get open -- something the Lions’ incredibly average secondary can ill afford.
That’s where the defensive line comes in. The wide-9 system used by coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham is designed to force mobile players like Vick and McCoy back to the middle of the field. But if there’s a knock on the Lions’ defensive ends, it’s that they sometimes over-pursue. That can create a gap that speedy runners can exploit. It will be vital for the defensive ends to ensure there’s nowhere to run on the outside. If they can keep Vick and McCoy contained, the unit can create pressure on the passing game and stand a better chance of forcing turnovers.
Key matchup: Lions WRs vs. Eagles DBs: Calvin Johnson called on his fellow receivers to adopt a “no more mister nice guy” attitude against the Eagles on Sunday. Johnson said the unit needs to be more involved in the offense -- especially in the run game. “We can’t let those safeties have an easy day,” he said. If the receiving corps can help spring rushers for big gains, it may help create more favorable matchups in the passing game.
Detroit receivers have also struggled with zone defensive schemes and two-high safety coverage. It will be interesting to see how Eagles CBs Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie set up against Johnson and Nate Burleson on the outside. Both DBs have made a career of effective man-to-man coverage, but that style of defense is also the type of matchup the Lions’ receivers often dominate. If the Eagles go zone, it may limit the effectiveness of two of their marquee players. If Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie are allowed to jam receivers at the line and battle man-to-man, Detroit’s big-play ability could be diminished.
Injuries of note: The Lions are the healthiest they've been all season. They’ll be without DT Corey Williams, who is week-to-week (knee surgery). He will be replaced by Sammie Hill and Nick Fairley. The duo played an equal number of snaps in Detroit’s Week 4 loss to the Vikings, and defensive coordinator Cunningham called on them to step up their efforts. Don’t be surprised if Cunningham decides to ride the hot hand between the two Sunday. S Louis Delmas is listed as questionable although he practiced for three consecutive workouts this week, but was held out Friday as a precaution. Every player that the team has used that particular designation on this season has played, so it’s likely that he’ll make his 2012 debut Sunday.
Inside stuff: OC Linehan told reporters during Detroit’s offseason program that rookie tackle Riley Reiff would see significant action this season, but few expected that Reiff’s contributions would come in a TE-style role in pass protection. The Lions lined Reiff up as an eligible receiver on the end of the line early in several drives against the Vikings in Week 4, and the passing game had some success as a result. Detroit’s O-line should be able to protect QBMatthew Stafford without Reiff’s help, but don’t be surprised if there's an extra tackle on the end of the line Sunday afternoon in max-protect situations.
Connections: Sunday’s game is the first of two consecutive weeks where the Lions face a former head coach. Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was Detroit’s coach from 2001-2002. He has had far greater success on Andy Reid’s staff than when he coached the Lions. Mornhinweg was 5-27 in his two seasons in the Motor City.
Stat you should know: During the first four weeks, second-year RB Joique Bell has quietly moved from a fringe player to a fully integrated member of the offense. His blocking has led to a role in the passing game as well, and Bell’s 175 receiving yards rank him third among NFL running backs. Don’t be surprised if he’s is an active part of the passing game if Detroit is trailing late.
Looking ahead: If the Lions win, they can carry that momentum into a tough Week 7 road matchup in Chicago. If not, they face the prospect of taking a 1-4 record into Soldier Field. Detroit will return home to face a Seattle team that is one of the league's elite defensive teams.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Lions 17
Follow Lions reporter John Kreger at @CBSLions and @JohnKreger.