D.J. Reader – Lions Lowdown

Five things to watch as Lions face Eagles in a ‘must-win’ game; plus injury update, prediction

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 DT Alim McNeill ready to go after 10 longs months off

Alim McNeill says he never has a dark day. He’s one of the more positive people you’ll ever meet.

So when the Detroit Lions defensive tackle, who has not played since he tore up his knee 10 months ago, says he’s positive he’ll be back at 100 percent on Monday night, there’s no reason to doubt him.

McNeill practiced for two weeks knowing he wouldn’t play, but this week the end result of all his hard work and therapy to get back on the field was in sight. He coudlnt be more excited.

“One thousand percent, probably slept a little longer last night too trying to get more rest for the week,’’ McNeill said. “Ten thousand percent, I’m 100 percent locked in right now. Ready to go.’’

The Lions (4-2) are coming off a loss at Kansas City. They’re facing the Tampa Bay Bucs (5-1) featuring mobile quarterback Baker Mayfield.

McNeill’s return is perfect timing for his teammates.

“I know he can’t wait to be back and it’s going to be fun to watch,’’ defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said. “We’re playing beside each other on some reps, it’s going to be really good to have him back.’’

McNeill plans to pick up where he left off when his season ended on Dec. 15. Oddly enough, the Lions were wearing their black uniforms that day and they’ll be wearing them again on Monday night.

“Mac brings a lot to us. I feel like he’s going to bring a lot in the pass game because he is a guy we believe can win one-on-ones in the pass game,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “But also all that he can do in the run game. I mean he’s stout, he’s aggressive, he’s powerful. So, I just think he’s another player that can elevate those around him.’’

Campbell said he will help Hutchinson just like Hutchinson will help him. The coach expects him to boost D.J. Reader and Al-Quadin Muhammad too.

McNeill said he’s been watching the games and visualizing what he could do if he was playing.

“I see myself fitting in just fine, being explosive, getting off blocks, creating pressure on the quarterback, making plays in the backfield,’’ McNeill said. “So that’s all I’ve been envisioning and that’s the work I’ve been putting in toward being able to do that.’’

The Lions and Bucs have played each other five times since 2019 with the Lions winning two of those matchups including one in the playoffs. Detroit lost to the Bucs in Week 2 last year, 20-16.

“I would say it definitely helps with a familiar opponent that we’ve seen a couple times now,’’ McNeill said. “They still do a lot of the same tendencies, the same things, but it will be all fresh to me because I’m coming back in. Once I get my legs under me with two or three snaps I think I’ll be all right.’’

UP NEXT: Tampa Bay Bucs (5-1) at Lions (4-2), 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20 at Ford Field)

Lions defense comes together with doses of belief, respect and opportunity

ALLEN PARK — At least two intertwining truths are evident this week as the Lions prepare to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday:

One: Bills quarterback Josh Allen is a freak, in a good way of course. Coach Dan Campbell said it, so did Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach. Everyone thinks and knows the mobile quarterback will be a handful.

Two: Detroit’s defense, which featured new faces in different places last week, is expected to improve this week. Plus, they might get a few injured players back.

It all seems good.

The Lions, coming off a win over the Packers, will have a similar plan against Buffalo. Keep the offense on the field since Allen is a freak and the defensive personnel are still learning to play together.

“Certainly we need offensive output that goes without saying. This team, even when you play good it’s going to be hard to completely shut this offense down,’’ Campbell said.

“But yet, there again, the guys we do have that have only been here for a short period of time I expect them to be better than last week. All of these guys are football players, it’s not like these guys can’t play football. I expect us to be better in that area. We’ll have a good gameplan. I see us playing better defensively. I think we’re going to show up and do some things. Offense has got to certainly score points preferably touchdowns not field goals and we need something out of (special) teams. Field position will be huge in this game.’’

With 13 defensive players on injured reserve, the Lions have run a master class on “next man up” and coaching up the new veterans who are unfamiliar with the system. The 11-game win streak is proof.

“Something came up in the (linebackers) room today where I was moving fast — now I’m trying to teach training camp stuff and at the same time prepare these guys to go against one of the most prolific offenses in the league this week,’’ Sheppard said. He gets help from veteran players like Jack Campbell and even Alex Anzalone who is in the meeting room even though he’s on injured reserve.

And he’s building off the mostly successful game against the Packers who were held to 31 points total and just 7 in the first half.

Sheppard explained that success is built on belief and respect.

“I think it’s a trickle down when the players see the belief we have in A.G. (Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator) and no matter who it is, what the call is, we expect a certain standard,’’ Sheppard said. “We actually live and breathe that. Because I’ve had guys tell me, guys talk about this but the way you all practice here, the way we prepare this is different. When they see the belief, when they see us living these things, I think it’s a trickle down and these guys buy in. It’s almost like without knowing, they’re doing anything you tell them.’’

And it’s not like the new guys like Ezekiel Turner, Kwon Alexander and Jamal Adams are just filling space.

At the first practice with Turner several weeks ago, Sheppard said he didn’t even know his last name. But out of the gate he saw his speed and coachability.

“I learned that he’s not a special teams linebacker and I want that said to the entire league. I believe this is his seventh year. He was almost in tears after the last game just because of the opportunity,’’ Sheppard said.

Turner came up with a huge tackle of Jordan Love — holding him to a 2-yard gain — on a third-and-goal play from Detroit’s 16 on the Packers’ final possession. It forced the Packers to settle for a field goal.

It was the fifth Lions game for Turner. He had 17 defensive snaps, up from 4 in his first game against the Jaguars.

Not only are the Lions a bit needy for good healthy bodies, but they run a meritocracy. It does not matter to Lions coaches where the players were drafted or if they were free agents.

“Like I’ve said in those rooms and these narratives, guys go first round, second round, they’re supposed to start. Guys who are free agents are special teams. That’s what it’s been. But that’s not what it is here,’’ Sheppard said. “If you show yourself and you show up in practice and you show we can trust you – that’s a big word. … These guys haven’t gotten many snaps in this League but some of these guys are veteran players. But they come here and that’s what builds the belief when these guys know if I do these things I’m going to get an opportunity.’’

INJURY UPDATE: Left tackle Taylor Decker (knee), who missed the last two games, practiced Wednesday and expects to play on Sunday … DL D.J. Reader (shoulder) did not practice but Campbell said he may be able to go on Thursday. … Defensive linemen Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) had limited practice. Both sat out against the Packers. … DL Alim McNeill (concussion) had a full practice. He was injured in the first half in the win over Green Bay.

UP NEXT: Buffalo Bills (10-3) at Detroit Lions (12-1), 4:25 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.