It's a little weird to think that this Philadelphia Eagles team won the Super Bowl in 2017. While that team was very talented, this year's squad has had some ups and downs, and after a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, they are looking a lot less threatening than the team that held the Lombardi Trophy more than 30 months ago.
On the other side of the field, the Detroit Lions are undefeated at 1-0-1 and looking to stay undefeated as they fly under-the-radar as a sleeper team to make the playoffs. Here are four reasons why Detroit will remain undefeated heading into Week 4.
4. Philadelphia has several key players injured
Viewers of Sunday Night Football a few days ago saw that Philadelphia's depth was severely tested, the most scary of which being that quarterback Carson Wentz left to be evaluated for a concussion.
While Wentz will be appearing in Sunday's game, a few key players on both offense (Desean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, and Corey Clement) and defense (Timmy Jernigan, Fletcher Cox, and Derek Barnett) have struggled with injuries all season long.
Even though no NFL team is completely healthy two weeks into the season, the Eagles have been hit by the injury bug especially hard, and the Lions will be able to take advantage of that on Sunday.
3. Zach Ertz will most likely be double teamed all day
With pass catchers Jackson, Jeffery, and Dallas Goedert all likely to not play on Sunday, that leaves All-Pro tight end Zach Ertz as one of the Eagles' only options in the passing game.
Not only that, but the Detroit Lions have proven to statistically be one of the best teams so far this season at defending tight ends. While both the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers don't have talented players like Ertz at the position, tight ends have only combined to put up three catches for 29 yards and less than six fantasy points.
The Lions have been able to defend tight ends well through the physical play of rising safeties Quandre Diggs and Tracy Walker, who can focus all their attention on Ertz on Sunday due to the Eagles' injury concerns.
2. The Eagles' pass defense has not been quality
While it is concerning that the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive skill players are banged up, it hurts them even more that their pass defense has proven to be one of the most incompetent in the league through two weeks.
Philadelphia currently ranks 31st in the league, since the Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons are not of the elite offenses in the league and were still able to average 340 yards through the air.
There is also the revenge aspect that the Lions can play into, as Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz used to be the former head coach in Detroit earlier this decade. While the roster has almost completely turned over since then, older players like Darius Slay may want to enact revenge on their former leader, who was not well liked when he was in Motor City.
1. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is in his bag
In a league full of quarterbacks getting injured and getting benched, the greatest thing the Lions have going for them is that they have a quality veteran quarterback who is playing some of his best football right now.
Due to last week's fourth quarter comeback, Stafford now leads the league in fourth quarter comebacks since 2009. If the Cardiac Cats are trailing heading into the fourth quarter, they have a gunslinger that can help lead them to a victory.
The Lions may not need to come back to win this game. Stafford has also been insanely accurate so far this season, as through two games, he has completed more than 65 percent of his passes while throwing for 630 yards and five touchdowns, quietly making him one of the best statistical quarterbacks so far in 2019.
It looks like Stafford and young targets like Kenny Golladay and T.J. Hockenson have settled into their new play-action heavy offense. Combine the Lions young, talented receiving corps with the Eagles' injury concerns and their lack of depth in the secondary, and the Lions could make the recent champs look silly in the City of Brotherly Love.
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