It wasn’t pretty, but the Philadelphia Eagles did just enough to outlast a feisty Detroit Lions team 38-35.
The team led by as many as 17 for most of the contest before a late Lion surge cut the deficit to three. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense then went on a masterful four-minute drive to ice the game in the final minutes.
After an off-season of heightened expectations, the Eagles came out flat early in the first quarter falling behind 7-0 after an opening drive blitz from the Lions’ pair of running backs with DeAndre Swift and Jamaal Williams.
Philly would later go off with 21 points in a second-quarter bonanza that highlighted the newest acquisition of AJ Brown. Brown caught 10 passes for 155 yards on the day, the most by an Eagle receiver in his debut since T.O., and helped quarterback Jalen Hurts silence the first standing-room-only game of Ford Field since 2017.
Hurts on the other hand accounted for 334 total yards and scored a rushing touchdown. His only score tied the contest at seven. The Eagles’ starting quarterback went 18-32 passing for over 240 yards, He also recorded 90 yards on the ground that helped Philadelphia’s offense total over 30 total points.
After three straight punts from both teams, Hurts and the Eagles went on a six-play, 66-yard drive capped off by a Miles Sanders touchdown run: his first in two seasons.
In total, the Eagles’ offense tallied over 450 yards of offense and were an efficient 10-17 on third down.
James Bradberry then made the most of a tipped pass to get his first pick-six in an Eagles uniform. The Eagles’ newcomer got some help from an excellent play by linebacker Kyzir White.
White tallied five tackles and a pass defense in his first game as an Eagle. White’s performance was one of the only defensive showings that looked promising.
While Philadelphia’s offense showed their efficiency, the defense was shredded after the second half began. After talks of the team being healthy heading into the season, the Eagles’ defense showed the downside of not having physical practices.
Missed tackles, poor execution, and blown coverages set up a Lions’ offense to score three of their final four possessions.
While the Lions scored to cut the deficit to three, Jalen Hurts and specifically, Miles Sanders iced the contest.
With the win, Philadelphia moves to 1-0 on the season and play the Minnesota Vikings at home for the home opener on Monday Night Football next week.
Detroit falls to 0-1 and plays the Washington Commanders in week two.
Eagles Game Notes
- The Eagles had four offensive touchdowns scored today with all of them coming on the ground. This was the first time since 1961 that the Eagles had four rushing touchdowns from four different players. Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell also helped with the scoring.
- Philadelphia’s defense was less than stellar in the fourth quarter. Jared Goff threw for over 150 yards in the final quarter alone thanks to poor execution from the Eagles’ secondary.
- Philadelphia has won four of five season-opening games in a recent trend of excellence in 1-0 starts.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Duane Burleson
