Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions/Eagles Matchup

For the first time in a few years, there is some excitement being generated in the football world by a Detroit Lions matchup. This is also the first time in a long while that Lions fans can be hopeful and nearly confident that the team will compete and not be embarassed while facing a member of the NFL elite, a team which has been one victory away from the Super Bowl for three straight seasons. All of the games in the NFL possess heightened importance due to its relatively short duration but this game has the utmost importance as a statement game for the Lion’s organization.

Offensively, the Lions will have get off to a good start in the game early. They have little margin for error while facing the Eagles big-play, high pressure defense. Tantamount will be the abillity of Lions running backs to make the proper blitz reads and to be effective in blocking against the Eagles incessant blitzing. The Lions RBs will also have to find those spots in the Eagle defense where they can help Harrington by providing a safety valve in his check downs from the Eagle pressure. This will be a big game for Artose Pinner, as he is supposed to be very capable in picking up blitzes. Shawn Bryson should also get a lot of opportunities because of his good hands and experience in blocking. I think that the Lions tight ends will have to be more involved in the game plan to help nullify the Eagle pressure and finding spots for Harrington to throw to. The Eagles have young cornerbacks in Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, who have had to take up the slack of man-to-man coverage in the Eagles defense after losing two former Pro Bowlers in free agents Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor in the offseason. Hopefully, Roy Williams’ two touchdowns last week along with Az Hakim and Tai Streets’ seasoned experience will help Joey Harrington to be successful Sunday. This will be a true test of Joey Harrington’s knowledge, leadership and composure in his third season.

The Lions defense has the difficult task of trying to stop the two-way threats of Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. McNabb is always a threat to run as well as throw and Westbrook may be even more effective in catching dump-offs in Andy Reid’s pass happy offense. This game is where the Lions will likely most miss Boss Bailey’s jaw dropping athleticism. He would be perfect to mirror McNabb and try to eliminate his scrambling ability. Bailey would also be effective in disrupting the passes to Westbrook. Hopefully, the young Lions linebacker corps will be able to prevent McNabb from converting long third down plays with his feet. The Lions will need big games from Shaun Rogers, James Hall and Kalimba Edwards (Kalimba the Ghost?) in pressuring McNabb and preventing Terrell Owens, Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell from dicing up the Lions injury-depleted secondary. Not having Andre Goodman and Dre’ Bly on Sunday is particularly troubling. There will be a lot of pressure on young fill-in Chris Cash to perform well. In a game of this nature, the Lions can ill afford to give up big plays. I think it is possible the Lions will possibly allow the Eagles to have some success running the ball in deference and respect to their ability to pass.

Special teams have played a huge part in the first two Lion victories and this game will be no different. They have generated two touchdowns on big plays by their special teams. In games with so little margin for error the special teams importance is heightened. The Lions will have to defend very well in the return game. Eddie Drummond will have to do a yeoman’s job of keeping the Lions from being pinned deep within their own territory. Another touchdown on a kick return could possibly propel the Lions to victory. The Eagles kicker, David Akers is among the best in the business so another blocked kick appears unlikely.

Even with the short week of preparation, it is hard for me to conjure up a scenario in which the Lions win this game. That being said, I think the Lions will be respectable if overmatched Sunday. The Lions will suffer their first loss, 29-20.