With a 4-6 overall record, the Philadelphia Eagles are at somewhat of a crossroads. They are still just one game back of the New York Giants in a subpar NFC East division, but two consecutive losses at home has players and fans very frustrated. Does this team have what it takes to make a turnaround, or will the Eagles continue to freefall for the remainder of the season? A Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Detroit Lions will help us figure that out.
The Lions started the season at 0-5. Due to the terrible start, the general manager, the team president and some coaches were all fired. They come into this game riding a two-game win streak.
Just four days ago, Jameis Winston, Doug Martin and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blew the Eagles out by 28 points at Lincoln Financial Field. Winston tied a rookie record with five touchdown passes and Martin ran for over 230 rushing yards.
Philadelphia's defense will look to get that bad taste out of their mouth this week, but things aren't going to get much easier against Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense.
Stafford, like Winston, is a former No. 1 overall draft pick. He has one of the strongest arms in all of the NFL. But that strong arm comes with somewhat of a gun-slinger mentality. He has thrown for 2,607 yards on the season with 15 touchdown passes, but he also has thrown 12 interceptions.
The Eagles defense had zero answers for wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson last week against the Bucs. The Lions present a similar problem in this respect. Although Calvin Johnson is now 30 years old, he is still regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the game. Johnson ranks 10th in the league with 828 receiving yards. The Eagles have to also keep Golden Tate in check. Tate can play on the outside, line up in the slot or even get some touches out of the backfield.
The Lions don't have much of a ground game, and that's good for an Eagles defense that has struggled stopping the run of late. Detroit is ranked last in the NFL in terms of rushing yards per game. Not one Lions running back has rushed for 100 yards in a game this season, and the team itself has only eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice. Over the past four games, the Eagles defense has allowed a whopping 180 rushing yards per contest.
The Eagles defense ranks third in the NFL with 21 takeaways, but they didn't force a turnover in both of the last two games. Detroit has the worst turnover differential in the league (-10).
On the offensive side of the ball for Philadelphia, Sam Bradford might make a return after missing his first start of the year last week. Bradford suffered a concussion and a separated non-throwing shoulder in the third quarter of the loss to Miami. After passing the concussion protocol on Monday, he was a full participant in Wednesday's practice session. He is officially ruled questionable to play.
If Bradford's out, backup Mark Sanchez will look to make a second consecutive start under center for the Eagles. Sanchez has been a turnover machine so far. In less than six total quarters of play, Sanchez has already thrown four interceptions, including an end zone interception in fourth quarter of the game against the Dolphins. He threw three interceptions last week, including a pick-six.
No matter who starts under center, the Eagles offensive line will have their hands full with Lions defensive end Ezekial Ansah. Ansah leads the NFC with eight sacks on the season, and he will likely be matched up with Eagles offensive tackle Jason Peters. Peters made a return against the Bucs last week after missing the previous two games with a back injury, but he left the game early after re-injuring himself.
Running back Ryan Mathews and tight end Zach Ertz won't be available for Philadelphia due to concussion injuries. Mathews has been sidelined since getting knocked out in the third quarter of the team's loss to the Dolphins. Ertz is out as he recovers from suffering a concussion in the second quarter of the loss to the Bucs.
Without the services of Mathews last week, Darren Sproles had an increased role in the offense. Sproles had six carries for 21 yards, and three catches for 38 yards, 35 of which came on a touchdown reception. Brent Celek only caught seven passes for 71 yards in the first eight games of the season. In the past two games, Celek has 11 receptions for 213 yards.
The last time these two teams met, there was over eight inches of snow on the ground at Lincoln Financial Field. Because of the weather conditions, the Lions were unable to move the ball successfully in the pass game. Stafford threw 10-for-25 for 151 yards. Former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy dashed his way through the snow for a franchise-record 217 rushing yards as the Eagles completed a second half comeback victory.
Mother Nature won't help the Eagles this time, as the game will be played indoors at Ford Field in Detroit.
Game Notes
- The Eagles are undefeated with a 6-0 record when playing on Thanksgiving Day. Their last Thanksgiving Day victory came last year against the Dallas Cowboys by a final score of 33-10.
- Since 2004, the Eagles are 4-1 against the Lions. Philadelphia's offense has averaged 35.6 points per game in those games.
Injury Report
Eagles
Out
- TE Zach Ertz (concussion)
- RB Ryan Mathews (concussion)
Questionable
- QB Sam Bradford (concussion, left shoulder)
- C Jason Kelce (knee)
- T Jason Peters (back)
- LB Kiko Alonso (ankle)
- LB Connor Barwin (quadriceps)
- LB DeMeco Ryans (hamstring)
- DE Cedric Thornton (ankle)
- S Walter Thurmond (hamstring)
Questionable
- S Don Carey (back)
- WR Calvin Johnson (ankle)
- DT Caraun Reid (ankle)
- CB Darius Slay (neck)
- DT Gabe Wright (ankle)
Probable
- CB Crezton Butler (teeth)
- TE Eric Ebron (quad/hand)
