The Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions come into this game both hoping to start off the 2022 NFL season with a win.
Detroit, despite finishing the 2021 season with a record of 3-13-1, will be a tough, gritty team that will provide a good test for the Eagles. Let's dig into the matchup.
Series Record | Philadelphia leads the overall series 18-16-2
The Eagles have a winning record of 8-6 at Detroit. The last time these two teams met, the Eagles played one of their best games of the 2021 season, prevailing with a 44-6 win on Halloween. This win helped vault the Eagles forward for the rest of the season, winning seven of nine games, and eventually reach the playoffs.
Key Offseason Additions: WR D.J. Chark, DE Aidan Hutchinson
Player to Watch | RT Penei Sewell
The No. 7 overall draft pick last season, Penei Sewell had a good finish to his rookie campaign for the Detroit Lions. Head Coach Dan Campbell wants to be a physical team on offense and defense, and Sewell will need to continue his ascent for that to happen. If he is able to continue his development, the run game behind running back D'Andre Swift will be a featured component in the Lions' game plan.
What to Watch for | Lions Offense
Jared Goff enters his second season as the starting quarterback in Detroit. Goff and the rest of the team look to take a step forward in 2022 under second-year Head Coach Dan Campbell.
With rookies Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown coming on strong to finish 2021, the offense looks to move forward. Adding a big play receiver like D.J. Chark in free agency and a speedster like Jameson Williams, who will be sidelined from a knee injury suffered in the National Championship Game, in the draft adds dimensions the team was missing in 2021.
Watch to Watch for | Lions Defense
On defense, the Lions will hope former first-round cornerback Jeff Okudah returns healthy from the Achilles tear he suffered in 2021. If he is able to return and show the form he had in college at Ohio State and rookie Aidan Hutchinson is able to provide a pass rush, the Detroit Lions are potentially on the verge of being a dangerous team in the NFC North.
Marquee Matchup | Jordan Mailata vs. Aidan Hutchinson
Jordan Mailata comes into this game as the starting left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles. He will be one of the offensive linemen tasked with battling against rookie No. 2 overall draft pick Aidan Hutchinson.
Last season at Michigan, Hutchinson proved himself by becoming a Heisman Trophy runner-up. With his help, Michigan made the College Football Playoff for the first time. He personifies the intensity that Head Coach Dan Campbell has instilled as seen during his Training Camp appearances on Hard Knocks.
