(Photo: Peacock)

Intriguing Game- NFL, Week 11

Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles

Lions (6-3):

The best I’ve seen them look was that game when they dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. The defense was punishing, the coaching was sharp, and the offense did its part. I truly believe this is a much better offense when Jahmyr Gibbs is productive because he can attack a defense as both a runner out of the backfield and as a receiver in the passing game. His versatility doesn’t go unnoticed. Coming out of the bye week, they dropped the ball and lost to the Minnesota Vikings — a reminder that divisional games are always tough. I loved what I saw from them in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders. When they play that way, not many teams in the NFC can compete with or beat them. There’s no denying what their identity is — this is a group that wants to run the football. On Sunday against Washington, they rushed for 226 yards as a team, and that kind of effort makes me smile. The difference was Dan Campbell taking over play-calling duties, as the Lions scored on eight consecutive drives with Dan drawing up the plays. On Monday, I was asked what I thought about Dan taking over the play-calling. I said I don’t particularly care for it — when you’re a head coach, your focus should be on the entire team, both sides of the football. Secondly, he’s a little too risky for my liking — hence the nickname “Gambling Dan.” This Sunday night, they’ll make their way to South Philly to take on the defending champs.

Eagles (7-2):

If you’re a football junkie or a traditionalist, you loved every second of that game on Monday night. (It’s me — I’m both.) I understand the modern game is all about offense, high scoring, and a pass-happy style, but Monday night showed me that the art of defense is far from lost. Only 17 total points were scored, and neither offense could ever find a rhythm. After halftime, I always look to see which team adjusts better — and in this instance, that was the champs. The defensive performance was a total team effort, but one player stood out most: newly acquired EDGE rusher Jaelan Phillips, who joined the team just last week. He impacted the game in so many ways — quarterback hits, consistent pressure, keeping Jordan Love under constant duress — but it was also the little things that didn’t show up on the stat sheet. His energy fueled everyone around him. At 7-2, the Eagles are running away with the NFC East, and I don’t think it’ll be close. While Monday’s game was sloppy, they made one more play than Green Bay when it mattered most in the second half. I actually want to see them play exactly like they did in Week 10 — as bullies on the block, challenging their opponent’s manhood. When they play like that, there isn’t a team in the league as physical as they are. They return home for a huge NFC showdown on Sunday night.

Lions X-Factor: Alim McNeill

Interior pressure is the new wave in the NFL, and that’s exactly what Alim provides. I know he missed a few games this year due to injury, but when he’s on the field, he makes all the difference. He’s a physical force in the middle who can consistently attack and push the pocket. His power and improved quickness have made him a disruptive force not just in the run game, but also as a pass rusher. I’ll be watching him closely against the Eagles’ “tush push” and seeing how he applies pressure up the middle on Jalen Hurts — because Jalen tends to struggle more when the pocket collapses from the inside rather than from the edge.

Eagles X-Factor: Zack Baun

Zack was a key member of the Eagles’ Super Bowl–winning team a year ago, and the other night, I referred to him as the heart and soul of this entire football team. His versatility has been crucial for the Eagles’ defense this season. Zack is that hybrid linebacker who can drop into coverage, rush the passer, or spy the quarterback in the middle of the field. Detroit’s offense thrives on misdirection and motion, which means Zack’s ability to diagnose plays quickly will be key in shutting down play-action and screen passes. Expect to see him lining up all over the field — on the edge or in the middle — keeping a close eye on Jared Goff.

Final Thoughts:

These were the top two teams in the NFC a year ago — Detroit winning 15 games, Philly 14. I said last season that the Eagles were the biggest threat to the Lions in the NFC, and now here we are, set for a huge Week 11 matchup under the lights. Both teams feature two of the best offensive lines in football, and this could easily be a preview of the NFC title game.  Keys for the Lions: Win up front. Disrupt the Eagles’ interior ground attack and collapse Jalen Hurts’ pocket, feed Jahmyr Gibbs early and often. The Eagles’ front is strong but has shown cracks against speedy backs in space. Get Gibbs involved in screens, draws, and outside zones and win on third down and in the red zone. Detroit is excellent at capitalizing on red-zone chances — they get six, not three. Keys for the Eagles: Bracket Amon-Ra St. Brown. He’s the engine of Detroit’s offense. Make someone else beat you — Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds, or Sam LaPorta — anybody but #14, disrupt Jared Goff’s rhythm. He’s elite when comfortable but hurries passes under pressure. Expect Vic Fangio to disguise pressure and rotate safeties to bait quick throws and keep Jalen Hurts clean. Neutralize interior pressure to let him operate in rhythm. Expect designed QB runs, quick slants, and RPOs to slow down Detroit’s rush. This should be an exciting matchup.

Prediction:

Lions 30, Eagles 23