This was the test that the Eagles needed. It was important to establish just who the 2025 Eagles are—and on a blustery Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field on national TV against the Detroit Lions, the Eagles proved that they are, as of mid-November, the best team in the NFL after a 16-9 victory.
Detroit outgained the Eagles, 317-272, though rented a penthouse in the head of Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff, forcing him to rush his passes. He was just 14 of 37 with five batted passes, for 255 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles offense is still not humming, yet it is effective enough to produce more points than the opposition, which has led to an NFC-best 8-2 record—and all but wrapping up the NFC East in consecutive years for the first time since the Eagles last did it in 2003 and 2004.
The Eagles have now beaten Los Angeles, Kansas City, Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Green Bay and in two weeks will host the surging NFC North-leading Chicago Bears on Black Friday. They have given up a combined 16 points in consecutive weeks to the No. 5-ranked offense (Detroit) and No. 12-ranked offense (Green Bay) in the NFL.
Over the last two games, the Eagles’ defense allowed Green Bay and Detroit to go a combined 8 of 26 on third-down conversions and 1-for-8 on fourth-down conversions, including Detroit’s 0-for-5 on Sunday night. The Eagles sacked Green Bay’s Jordan Love and Goff a combined five times and generated three turnovers.
Against Detroit, A.J. Brown played a major part in the offense, with team highs 11 targets and seven receptions for 49 yards. Jalen Hurts was a pedestrian 14 of 28 for 135 yards, with 31 yards rushing.
Right now, there should be no questions, no looming contrived controversies, nothing but facts: The Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFL.
There were piles of good, some bad, and a pinch of ugly in the Eagles’ 16-9 victory over the Detroit Lions.
The Good
Linebacker Nakobe Dean had himself a game, covering Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams down field and blowing up David Montgomery for a seven-yard sack of the skittish Jared Goff on a second-and-10 with 2:51 to play.
Defensive tackle Jordan Davis had an unusual stat, leading the Eagles with three passes defended, which came on three blocked passes. Davis was a reason why the Eagles were able to tap into Jared Goff’s psyche.
Jake Elliott kicking 27-, 34- and 49-yard field goals in a raging wind for nine vital points in a game where points came at a premium.
The Eagles getting into Jared Goff’s head. The Lions were 0-for-five on fourth down, and each time, it seemed the Lions’ quarterback was seeing more and more ghosts. He under threw, over threw, short armed throws, and was late with his throws.
Jahan Dotson’s 34-yard reception on the Eagles’ second drive of the second half. The play came on a broken second-and-10 play from the Eagles’ three after another Eagles’ defensive stand.
The Eagles’ goal-line stand on the Lions’ second drive of the second half. Safety Reed Blankenship came up with a stop on Jahmyr Gibbs at the Eagles’ four on second-and-goal, followed by Jalen Carter stopping Gibbs on third-and-goal, followed by Jaelan Phillips forcing Jared Goff to throw early on fourth down. It was Detroit’s fourth failed four-down attempt.
The Eagles halting the Lions on their first drive of the second half. Detroit began going to Jahmyr Gibbs out in the left flat, and he had open space for consecutive plays of 17 and 11 yards, immediately putting the ball at the Eagles’ 37. It’s when the Eagles clamped down, with Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis playing big roles. Dean’s pressure up the middle forced Goff to get the ball off quicker than he would have liked, and Davis came crashing down on Gibbs for a yard gain.
Tank Bigsby’s 17-yard run to the Lions’ 23 on a second-and-13 at the two-minute warning of the first half. On the play, left guard Landon Dickerson pulls and sealed off the Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson, giving Bigsby wide open space on the right. It led to the Eagles’ first TD.
Jalen Hurts’ 12-yard scramble to keep their sixth drive alive on a third-and-11 to the Detroit 21 after the Eagles halted the Lions’ fake punt in the second quarter.
The Eagles defense on the Lions’ first five possessions resulting in a: INT, punt, punt, downs, downs. The Lions were 0-for-four on third downs, and 0-for-2 on fourth downs.
Moro Ojomo coming up to stop Jahmyr Gibbs on the Lions’ attempt at a fourth-and-one at the Detroit 48 early in the second quarter. Ojomo shoved Lions’ left tackle Taylor Decker out of the way, and collapsed down on Gibbs for no gain. Ojomo came through again jamming the middle of the line of scrimmage when the Lions tried a fake punt on a fourth-and-one at the Lions’ 43 with 11:26 left in the first half.
The Eagles’ special teams, starting with Cal Adomitis’ tackle on the Eagles’ first punt, followed by the Kelee Ringo taking down the Lions’ Kalid Raymond for on gain on the Eagles’ second punt.
Zack Baun pulling down Jahmyr Gibbs from behind for a one-yard loss on the first play of the Lions’ second drive. It set the tone for the series, which featured a Jaelan Phillips’ five-yard sack.
Cooper DeJean’s firstregular-season interception off a Jordan Davis’ deflected pass on the Lions’ third play. Davis actually made the play, getting up field and collapsing the pocket against Lions’ center Graham Glasgow and wound up getting slammed for it.
A.J. Brown’s kneeling 12-yard catch at the 47 on the third play of the game on a third-and-10. The play gave the Eagles a fresh set of downs, which they then proceeded to go three-and-out. Brown caught six of Hurts’ nine first-half completions. The six catches equaled the most receptions he had in a first half in his NFL career.
The Bad
Darius Cooper going offsides on a fourth-and-one at the Eagles’ 41 with 6:25 left to play, forcing the Eagles to punt.
Jordan Mailata was having a good game, corralling Aidan Hutchinson, until he was called for holding early in the fourth quarter, putting the Eagles into a first-and-20 at the Eagles’ 40.
Brown’s dubious effort on a third-and-15 at the Eagles’ 48, on the Eagles’ second drive of the second half. The Lions’ Rock Ya-Sin was covering Brown, who seemed let up on the route.
Lane Johnson coming off the field limping with just over 4:30 left to play in the first quarter. It was later ruled out of the game with a foot injury.
The Eagles getting stuffed on third-and-one on their third drive. Why not use their infamous “Tush Push” alignment there?
The Eagles blowing a red zone opportunity after the DeJean interception, forced to settle for a Jake Elliott 27-yard field goal. Hurts threw behind Brown on third-and-eight at the Lions’ nine on that drive.
Tight end Dallas Goedert’s drop on the second play of the game.
The Ugly
Right tackle Fred Johnson going offsides with 1:51 to play, making a third-and-three into a third-and-eight at the Eagles’ 37. Fortunately, the Lions’ Rock Ya-Sin was called for a questionable pass interference on the following play, which sealed the game.
Right guard Tyler Steen turning the Eagles’ first drive of the second half from a Tush Push third-and-one gimme into a third-and-six, when Steen was flagged for tapping Lions’ tackle Tyliek Williams on the left hand. Steen clearly reached over to tap Williams. As the Eagles returned to the huddle, Saquon Barkley was tapping his helmet motioning to Steen as if to say, use your head.
Adoree’ Jackson simply getting burned by Jameson Williams on a 40-yard TD from Jared Goff with 5:05 left in the first half. It was as simple as Williams crossing over the middle and out running Jackson, a season-long liability opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
The Eagles getting six points after blowing field position at the Lions’ 11, 48 and 43 on three of their first six drives. Part of that was Detroit’s defense, part of that was conservative play calling, part of that was Hurts misfiring, throwing behind, and throwing over receivers.
Right tackle Lane Johnson getting flagged for holding Aidan Hutchinson on the fourth play of the game, putting the Eagles in a first-and-20 at their 37.
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