Lions vs Eagles Preview and Prediction
The Detroit Lions lead the NFC North by a game over the Chicago Bears heading into Week 14. The Bears do not play until Monday Night against the Dallas Cowboys, while Detroit visits the Philadelphia Eagles, who are tied for the lead in the NFC East with Dallas.
Detroit enters this matchup with a record of 7-5 SU and 6-6 ATS, while on the road the Lions are 3-3. Philadelphia has an identical record at 7-5 SU and 6-6 ATS. However, at home the Eagles are just 2-4.
The Lions have had an extended break since they beat Green Bay 40-10 on Thanksgiving Day in their best defensive showing of the season. The 10 points were the fewest the Lions have allowed in close to two years.
Detroit held Green Bay to only 126 yards of offense, which is the lowest an opponent, has gained since November of 1992 when Cincinnati had just 95.
The defensive unit of Detroit believes that game was not an anomaly and can string together a number of strong defensive games heading toward the playoffs.
The Lions achieved their season high in quarterback sacks in two straight weeks when they recorded seven versus Green Bay and four against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers November 24.
Detroit will have its hands full with the up-tempo offense of Philly led by Nick Foles at quarterback. Foles has quieted the skeptics this season when he has started and is now the official starting quarterback for the team after going 5-1 as a starter in six games this season. He has carried the team offensively during their current four-game winning streak.
Foles with his 125.2 passing rating tops the NFL. He has 20 touchdown passes this season and no interceptions and needs just one more to tie Peyton Manning for the best start with number of touchdowns without an interception.
This matchup is as important for the Eagles in the NFC East as it is for the Lions in the NFC North, as both are battling for a division title. Philly kept pace last weekend with Dallas as both teams won.
Last season the Lions defeated the Eagles in Philadelphia 26-23 with Detroit’s talented quarterback Matthew Stafford outdueling Michael Vick by throwing for 311 yards. Prior to that Detroit win, the Eagles had won the previous six games against the Lions.
Last week, Stafford threw two interceptions, which gives him a league worst 10 in his last five games. Detroit over that stretch has 17 turnovers while only forcing four. However, they have won 3 of the 5 games during that span all of which were against teams trying to make the playoffs.
Detroit not only is one game ahead of Chicago, but they hold the tiebreaker against the Bears. Stafford said the team must take care of the pigskin better, starting with him. The Philly defense has forced 7 interceptions in its past four games.
Detroit’s rushing game has returned, as it had 241 yards on Thanksgiving. That was the best output on the ground the Lions have had all season.
In that game, all-purpose back Reggie Bush had 182 total yards, which included 117 rushing. Since the start of the 2011 season, the Lions are 4-0 SU against NFC East opponents.
The betting trends have Detroit against the spread, while the straight up money is taking Detroit and the UNDER.
Pick: Philadelphia 34-31
