▶ Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

▶ TV/radio: NBC/97.1 FM

▶ Records: Lions are 6-3; Eagles are 7-2

▶ Line: Eagles by 2½

▶ Series: Philadelphia leads, 18-16-2, including postseason (Last meeting: Sept. 11, 2022 — Eagles 38, (at) Lions 35)

Richard Silva of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions’ Week 11 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Key matchup

DETROIT’S SECONDARY VS. PHILADELPHIA’S PASS CATCHERS

Here we are again, talking about the Lions’ undermanned secondary going up against a pass-catching unit brimming with talent. The availabilities of cornerbacks D.J. Reed (hamstring) and Terrion Arnold (concussion) are up in the air, and the Eagles have their full assortment of weapons, from A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley. Jahan Dotson, who could push to be a starter on some teams, is fifth on the Eagles in targets (15), behind Smith (62), Brown (54), Goedert (45) and Barkley (31).

But we’ve seen the Lions manage in a similar position before, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 despite four of their five starters in the secondary on the sideline. Rock-Ya Sin and Nick Whiteside have proven capable as depth at cornerback on outside, and safety Thomas Harper has done an admirable job filling in for Kerby Joseph, who has missed three consecutive contests.

There’s also the fact that, for one reason or another, things aren’t exactly clicking with Philadelphia’s passing attack. The Eagles rank 25th in passing yards per game, much below expectations. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is efficient — he leads the NFL with a 16:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and his passer rating this season (112.0) ranks sixth — but the Eagles have struggled to rack up yards through the air, held below 200 net passing yards in five of their nine contests. When they pass, they do it well. They just don’t do it as often as conventional wisdom says they should.

Eagles to watch

▶ Jalen Carter, defensive lineman: One of the NFL’s most talented defensive players, Carter hasn’t quite dominated like he did through his first two seasons. But he still has a 17-game pace of nearly 70 pressures, and he forms one half of an impressive tandem at defensive tackle, alongside Jordan Davis. That duo has helped hold opposing running backs to 3.3 yards per carry over their last three games.

▶ Cooper DeJean, cornerback: Most of DeJean’s reps still come at nickel, but he’s also seen increased opportunity on the outside, as the Eagles have made an effort to keep him on the field, no matter the personnel package. DeJean has allowed 27 receptions for 247 yards and a touchdown this season, per Pro Football Focus. His grade as a run defender (70.2) ranks 15th among the 64 cornerbacks in the NFL who have played at least 120 snaps as a run defender.

▶ Jihaad Campbell, linebacker: Campbell, the 31st overall pick in April’s draft, has been one of the league’s best rookies. He’s been a solid run defender (eight run stops) and even better in coverage, if you’re going by PFF’s grading; his mark (82.6) is third among qualified defenders, behind San Francisco’s Fred Warner (91.5) and Jacksonville’s Devin Lloyd (90.3).

Facts and figures

▶ Three linebackers in the NFL have 70-plus tackles, three-plus sacks, one-plus takeaways and at least one forced fumble: Philadelphia’s Zack Baun, Detroit’s Jack Campbell and Miami’s Tyrel Dodson. Baun, an All-Pro player in his first campaign with the Eagles in 2024, has been targeted in coverage 41 times this season. He’s surrendered 30 receptions for 218 yards, a touchdown and an interception, according to PFF. That’s good for an allowed passer rating of 83.2, which ranks 13th among the 96 linebackers who have 100 or more defensive snaps played.

▶ Nick Sirianni (71.4%) currently has the second-best winning percentage among head coaches who have at least 50 games of experience in the Super Bowl era, behind only John Madden (.759). Sirianni and Detroit’s Dan Campbell were hired during the same cycle in 2021. Since 2023, Sirianni’s Eagles are 32-11. Campbell’s Lions are 33-10.

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18

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