Lions football is finally back, as they face off against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, September 11. Looking to start their season with an opening day win, the Lions have to get passed a tough in-conference matchup. These two teams faced off last season, with the Lions receiving a hefty beating. The final score was 44-6 with the Eagles rushing game contributing most to that score-line.
Here are my 5 things to note before Sunday’s game:
1. Lions Rushing Defense:
In their last matchup, the Eagles dominated on the ground, rushing for 235 yards and four touchdowns. That was without starting running back Miles Sanders, who will be playing on Sunday. Jalen Hurts was the leading rusher though, as the Lions failed to contain him when rolling out of the pocket. It’s not secret the Lions defensive front has improved, but still the run game looks to be their biggest weakness. If Aidan Hutchinson and Charles Harris seal the edges properly, they might put an end to that. Mobile quarterbacks posed an issue in preseason, especially with the linebackers. Derrick Barnes, Alex Anzalone, and especially Malcolm Rodriguez have come a long way since then, but they will need to be on their A-game if the Lions want a chance to win.
2. It Might be a Shootout:
The Eagles have a vastly improved defense from last year, that is true, but starting from a 31st ranked sack rate and 22nd ranked pressure rate in the NFL means there is only room for improvement. Sure, they have good corners in Darius Slay and James Bradberry, but they still lack a lot up front. With edge Derek Barnett doubtful for the game, along with nose-tackle Javon Hargrave, they will have some holes to fill.
The Lions defense was projected to be the worst in the NFL by ESPN this season. Sure, they have a lot of holes, but they are far from the worst. Adding Aidan Hutchinson alongside an improved Charles Harris should help the pass rush. Alim McNeil looks to take a big step up and contribute more against the run. The secondary needs help though, as Amani Oruwariye is the only safe piece the team has, with Jeff Okudah still needing to prove himself on his return from injury.
Both offenses are fast, run heavy teams, that have the potential to put up big numbers. Philly showed that last season and carries over much of the same team. The Lions on the other hand, improved a ton offensively. Jared Goff looks more comfortable, receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and D.J. Chark have impressed, and D’Andre Swift is becoming a more physical runner. All things to look forward to. The concern has been the offensive line the past few days, as Halapoulivaati Vaitai is out at right gaurd, and center Frank Ragnow is questionable for Sunday. Both teams will looks to explode on offense, the question will be, who gets a hotter start?
3. Aidan Hutchinson Staying Electric:
The Lions brought in edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson with the number two overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Since then, he has taken the league by storm, standing out on every snap he had in the preseason, and singing his way into fan’s hearts on Hard Knocks. He plays a pivotal role for Detroit as he greatly improves the pass rush this team can bring. Containing Jalen Hurts and keeping him in the pocket will be important, as that is his greatest weakness. Hutchinson needs to continue his electric playmaking if the lions want a chance in this game. Hutchinson showed he has the ability to shutdown running QB’s before, so if that translates to the NFL level, the Lions should have no problem against the Eagles.
4. To Play-Call or Not to Play-Call:
Dan Campbell took over playing calling duties from Anthony Lynn midway through the 2021 season. This year, Ben Johnson has taken over as offensive coordinator, and was a phenomenal play-caller during training camp and preseason. To many fan’s shock, Dan Campbell still hasn’t officially stated who will call plays for the Lions this season. Campbell did a fairly good job in 2021, creating a more dynamic offense. Ben Johnson has brought more polish to the team as of the last few months though. To me, it seems Campbell doesn’t want any official statements made because he wants a share of the job as well. Many coaches do this, so it isn’t surprising. Will it halt the offense though? Honestly, I doubt it. Campbell and Johnson have a good relationship, built on trust and similar ideals, so their styles are very similar. Having two minds at the helm hopefully won’t pose an issue for the Lions on Sunday.
5. Passing Game Brings Success:
As previously mentioned, the Lions passing attack is vastly improved from 2021. Jared Goff has brought a new confidence and comfortability into 2022 that has instilled great confidence in the coaching staff. That and the improved receiving core should contribute to more success this season. The Eagles secondary, while decently strong, is untested. Darius Slay returns, but James Bradberry still needs to find his home in the defense. If the Lions exploit that and pass away form Slay, they can get down the field with their passing game. returning tightend TJ Hockenson will also have some good matchups against eagles linebackers in terms of size and speed, so using that to the Lions advantage will ensure production.
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