Aidan Hutchinson said it simply: This is a must-win game. The Lions (6-3) travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles (7-2) on Sunday night. Coach Dan Campbell likes Hutchinson’s viewpoint.
“I think we need to apply some pressure on ourselves, in a good way, because I know we’ve got the right guys too,’’ the coach said. “That’s what helps. We’re not – the reality is we’ve still got a lot of games left. How much is a must-win a must-win? But yet, I think when you view it that way, we’ve got to find a way to come away with this one.’’
The crazy atmosphere in Philadelphia has been dialed up since at least 1968 when the fans pelted Santa Claus with snowballs. Since then fans have thrown batteries and spit on opponents. Campbell witnessed it as a player.
“When you’re a competitor, you just love it. Man, you go on the road and everybody – it’s you against everybody else. And it’s very clear that it’s you against everybody else there,’’ Campbell said. “…. You go some places, man, they wave at you, ‘We’re so happy you’re here to play against us.’ This is not one of those places, that’s it. It’s as far from that as you can possibly get. I loved playing atmospheres like that, and I just know the type of guys we have. I think they’re going to eat it up, I really do.”
Five things to watch:
ONE: If the Lions hope to win, they must stop Saquon Barkley. Easier said than done. The running back accumulated 60 yards in the win at Green Bay on Monday. So far this season he has six touchdowns – two of them were receptions. He’s tough. “It’s because he’s big. He’s big, but he’s got the agility and the speed of a scat back,’’ Campbell said. “He’s powerful, he’s strong, explosive. He can hit the hole. And if he’s got a step and there’s a hole, he can take it the distance. And so you can’t just stick an arm out and pull this guy down. That’s what it is. You’re talking about a power back that’s got very good feet, lateral quicks, and explosive and speed to go the distance. That’s what it is.”
TWO: Expect aggressive play-calling from Campbell just like last week. It worked and seemed to spark the offense. Can it do the same against an Eagles’ defense? That’s the big question.
“It’s great. He did a good job,’’ Goff said. “Yeah, he’s a steady-Eddie and I thought he was great.”
THREE: Dealing with the tush-push is no easy task. While some coaches want the play banned, Campbell has been consistent that it should remain in the game. That is not changing just because the Lions are playing the Eagles. “We have a plan, we have an idea, but we have to execute,’’ Campbell said. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said they just need to find a way. “I don’t think anybody has quite cracked it yet. I trust big D.J. Reader in the middle to get the job done – he’s stopped a few QB sneaks in his day,’’ Hutchinson said. “It’s going to be a great battle. You can’t real;y practice a QB sneak, it’s a battle of wills.’’
FOUR: While the Lions’ offense was on fire last week and has been solid, they haven’t faced a defense created by Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. “He knows himself very well. He knows the opponent, but he knows himself very well and he’s always been great about that. He checks himself, he makes sure that you can’t get a beat on him,’’ Campbell said. “Now, there’s nothing super complex but yet the fact that he asks them to do things they do well and he just kind of keeps moving around, that makes it difficult.’’
FIVE: The Eagles, the defending Super Bowl champs, have at least one characteristic that makes them extremely tough to beat. “When they need a critical play, they come up with a critical play,’’ Campbell said. The Lions have a bit of that same DNA which should create a good battle.
LIONS INJURIES: OUT — TE Sam LaPorta, CB Terrion Arnold, S Kerby Joseph, EDGE Josh Pashal, EDGE Marcus Davenport, G Miles Frazier, CB D.J. Reed and LB Malcolm Rodriguez; QUESTIONABLE — LT Taylor Decker, CB Amik Robertson, RB Jack Saylors, T Penei Sewell, RB Sione Vaki and TE Brock Wright.
EAGLES INJURIES: QUESTIONABLE — G/C Willie Lampkin.
PREDICTION: Lions 28, Eagles 27.
Lions Lowdown 