The Steelers were supposed to be the team that spoiled the strong start by Carson Wentz and the Eagles.
Instead, the Birds and their rookie quarterback rolled to a 31-point win.
After a week off, will the Eagles stay hot or cool down when they travel to play the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field (see scouting report)?
Our (cough) experts offer their predictions on the Week 5 matchup.
Reuben Frank (2-1)
At some point, the Eagles are going to lose a football game. It won't be Sunday.
When the two teams met last year, the Eagles had one of the worst secondaries in football, and Matthew Stafford ripped them apart. This year, the Lions have one of the worst secondaries in football and I fully expect Carson Wentz to rip the Lions apart.
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Stafford and the Lions' offense will be a test for an Eagles defense that's allowed only two touchdowns all year, and I don't think the Eagles will completely shut down the Lions, who are always tough on the fast indoor turf. But I do think the Eagles will get out of Ford Field with a win and head down to Washington next weekend 4-0 for only the sixth time in franchise history. I'm going Eagles over Lions and Wentz becomes the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win his first four starts.
Eagles 27, Lions 24
Dave Zangaro (2-1)
I was completely wrong about the Steelers game and I've learned my lesson. The Eagles are a good team. And the Lions are not.
When I look at this matchup, it just seems like everything is tilted in the Eagles' direction. Now, the three-point Eagles line is a little troubling, but I just have to pick the better team. And the Eagles are clearly the better team.
Sure, Matthew Stafford is a pretty good quarterback and Marvin Jones is a really good receiver (see story), but the Lions just don't have enough firepower to take down this impressive Eagles defense. And on offense, the Lions haven't been able to stop a tight end yet; it just so happens all of the Eagles' tight ends are finally healthy.
This won't be a repeat of last Thanksgiving (see story).
Eagles 34, Lions 13
Derrick Gunn (2-1)
The Eagles are well-rested, coming off a bye week and healthy. Detroit, on the other hand, is wounded in more ways than one. After winning their season opener over Indianapolis, the Lions proceeded to lose their next three by a combined total of 11 points.
The Lions are one of the most penalized teams in the league. Over its last three games, Detroit has 31 penalties. The Lions' defense has been penalized 15 times, and Detroit has struggled running the ball. Top running back Ameer Abdullah has missed the last two games because of a foot injury.
Carson Wentz should rack up some good passing numbers against a Lions pass defense that's ranked 21st in the league. The Eagles' defensive front should be able to get to Matthew Stafford. The Wentz wagon rolls out of Detroit with a win.
Eagles 27, Lions 20
Ray Didinger (2-1)
Most Eagles fans have this game penciled in as an easy win. Well, I do think the Eagles will win but it may not be as easy as people think. The Lions have lost three in a row but they have all been close, and I'm sure coach Jim Caldwell has spent this week telling his players it's not too late to turn things around. Sunday's game is the first of three in a row at home for the Lions, so this has a "desperate team" feel which makes it a tricky spot for the Eagles.
The Eagles are healthy with the return of tight end Zach Ertz, and they are well-rested coming off the bye, but they had better not take this one for granted. They are the better team but it wouldn't be a surprise if this game is close deep into the second half. I expect the Eagles to put it away with a late score or two.
Eagles 28, Lions 14
Andrew Kulp (2-1)
Unless everything we saw the first three weeks was a mirage, I'm having trouble finding reasons why the Eagles would lose in Detroit. Aside from Marvin Jones, nobody on the Lions' offense really scares you, while the defense is without its best pass-rusher and linebacker in Ziggy Ansah and DeAndre Levy.
Haloti Ngata and Kerry Hyder have been disruptive up front, and the Lions are blitzing to help make up for their deficiencies. Yet the offensive line for the Eagles is playing well, and no amount of pressure seems to rattle Carson Wentz because he sees everything. On the other side of the ball, Detroit is without two running backs (Ameer Abdullah, Dwayne Washington) and two tight ends (Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew), not to mention the offensive line is young — an advantageous matchup for Fletcher Cox and company.
If this is somehow close in the fourth quarter, you worry about Matthew Stafford maybe mounting a late charge, but a healthy Eagles squad should overpower an opponent that's been ravaged by injuries. Zach Ertz catches two touchdowns making his return from a displaced rib.
Eagles 38, Lions 10
Corey Seidman (2-1)
The Lions have the advantage of being at home, but the Eagles are the better team, the healthier team and they're coming off the bye.
Whether or not Carson Wentz throws his first interception in Detroit, this could be a 300-yard, multiple-TD game for him. It could also turn out to be one of the best games of Jordan Matthews' career if he can hang onto the ball.
Eagles 30, Lions 16
Andy Schwartz (1-2)
I picked them to lose to the Bears. I picked them to lose to the Steelers.
Lesson learned.
The Eagles avenge last year’s debacle.
Eagles 45, Lions 14
