Eagles vs Lions predictions. Our expert picks on what can decide heavyweight NFL matchup – The News Journal

PHILADELPHIA − Suffice it to say the Eagles will have to score more than the 10 points that they scored against the Green Bay Packers in order to beat the Detroit Lions on Nov. 16.
We all know that they can.
The Eagles were coming off their two best offensive showings of the season in terms of yards in victories over the New York Giants (38-20) on Oct. 26 and the Minnesota Vikings the week before. And then, they reverted to their inconsistent ways against the Packers despite winning 10-7 on Nov. 10.
A few days later, wide receiver A.J. Brown expressed his frustration on a Twitch feed, saying that fantasy football owners should “drop him,” and implied that the Eagles offense is a “(expletive) show.“
Detroit had no such offensive issues in its last game, a 44-22 win over the Commanders. The Lions gained 546 total yards. The two running backs, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, combined for 213 yards rushing. And quarterback Jared Goff went 25-for-33 for 320 yards.
For the season, the Lions are averaging 31.4 points per game.
All of this is coming against the backdrop of two of the top teams in the NFC meeting in a game that could determine home-field advantage in the playoffs. This, of course, was the expected matchup in the NFC Championship game last season. That is, until the Commanders upset the Lions at home.
In addition, the Eagles are coming off a short week after playing the Monday night game. Head coach Nick Sirianni said it doesn’t change much about their preparation, other than making sure his players are properly rested.
“When we get back late on a Monday, you’re a day behind, but you’re hoping that everything that you did prior to that gets you caught up,” Sirianni said. “But this is a really good team that we’re about to play.”
Here’s how we see the game going:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com), Tom Rimback (sports writer, Courierpostonline.com), Brandon Holveck (high school sports reporter, Delawareonline.com)
Wouldn’t it just figure that A.J. Brown, after getting dropped by so many Fantasy Football owners, has a breakout game against the Lions? Believe it or not, this game will be won on defense, and the Eagles’ is better. That is, as long as new edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and defensive tackle Jalen Carter can get pressure on Goff. He’s great at getting the ball out quickly and accurately, but he isn’t mobile. That can lead to mistakes (i.e. interceptions).
The pick: Eagles 28, Lions 26
I’m beginning to believe the Eagles’ offense will always do just enough to win. Sure, teams are keying on AJ Brown and Saquon Barkley, but we expect more. Maybe that’s our fault. The Eagles face another playoff team from last season, and the Lions have a solid defense − eighth best against the run. It looks like another grinder. I’ll give The Birds a slight edge.
The pick: Eagles 24, Lions 21
The Lions have had this one circled since clinching the No. 1 seed last year. After cratering against Washington in the playoffs, the Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl. Throw in that Jared Goff turned out to be the better draft pick than the guy the Eagles got that year, and there’s plenty of reason to think the Lions have the edge here.
The pick: Eagles 40, Lions 6
With the Eagles on a short week, the Lions have more rest. But they lost when they had more rest coming out of their bye week at the start of the month when they played the Vikings. But I’m ignoring all that and putting my chips down on Week 2 of Dan Campbell calling the offense for the former Portsmouth Spartans.
The pick: Lions 30, Eagles 17
This looks like a tough spot for the Birds. Playing on a short week after a tough, physical road game in cold Green Bay, Philadelphia could be looking at a letdown. Detroit can have the regular-season matchup because these two teams appear destined to meet again in the playoffs. The Lions will prevail here, but the Eagles won’t lose again the rest of the way, with a rematch at home against the team in Honolulu Blue come late January.
The pick: Lions 27, Eagles 23
This one looks like a real tossup. The Detroit offense will test the Eagles’ revitalized edge unit and secondary additions. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts and Co. are not likely to be held to a single TD again. When it’s too tough to call, I go to record vs. common opponents. The Lions have losses to Green Bay, Minnesota and Kansas City − three teams the Eagles have defeated.
The pick: Eagles 28, Lions 23
Make it another narrow victory for the Birds.
The pick: Eagles 27, Lions 24
This could be another close game. But at the end of the day Hurts is going to remind everyone why he was the Super Bowl MVP. I expect Barkley and Brown to also step up.
The pick: Eagles 21, Lions 14
It’s going to take more than 10 points to win this one. But the Lions’ kneecap-biting defense isn’t as ferocious as it sounds.
The pick: Eagles 33, Lions 31
There’s a real chance the Lions could pull off the upset here in Philly, but Detroit potentially being down one of the top tackles in the NFL in Penei Sewell makes me hesitant if the two-time All-Pro does miss. In the end, the Eagles defense does enough to get to Goff here, as the Birds offense bounces back with a much better performance at home in primetime — which includes a long touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts to disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown.
The Eagles win by a touchdown here and further cement themselves as one of, if not the best team in the NFC right now with a divisional matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Jerry World on deck.
The pick: Eagles 27, Lions 20
7-2: Rimback, Holveck, Haines, Giesen, Ganassi, Myers
6-3: Moore, McGurk, Tresolini
4-5: Frank
3-5: Bainbridge
2-7: Jordan
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the “Eye On The Eagles” newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday monring. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com

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