The Detroit Lions got a rare assist from their NFL North rival, the Green Bay Packers, during the Week 10 edition of Monday Night Football. Not only did the Packers lose 10-7 to the Philadelphia Eagles, but they went down swinging.
Detroit travels to the City of Brotherly Love for Sunday Night Football in Week 11. After the down-and-dirty brawl that took place Monday night at Lambeau Field, the Eagles are beaten and battered. And the best part? They've been exposed. At least offensively.
Saquon Barkley was effectively stopped as a rusher because of Green Bay's dominant defensive front. The Packers quite literally had left tackle Jordan Mailata on the field at one point, and they didn't allow Barkley between the guards or to the outside, where he's been known to torch a defense or two. Barkley had just 60 yards on 22 carries, though he did add 41 receiving yards.
Jalen Hurts, outside of a touchdown toss to DeVonta Smith, wasn't effective either. Hurts was mainly confined to checkdowns, and no receiver had more than 69 yards. A.J. Brown had two catches and 13 yards. The Eagles practically have no downfield passing game, and Hurts is not even having a big season on the ground by his standards.
Kelvin Sheppard Must Go For the Kill Against Kevin Patullo
Kevin Patullo is not having a great season in his first year as the Eagles' play-caller. Patullo inherited what should've been a slam-dunk situation and has not moved it forward. In fact, Smith and Brown are fed up with their consistently quiet performances.
Kelvin Sheppard needs to go for the kill on Sunday night in front of the Eagles' faithful. Assuming he has the personnel to achieve it. It's been a rough few weeks for the defense, outside of a 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Detroit faces a vulnerable opponent in Philadelphia on Sunday.
If the Lions can keep the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field out of the game with negative yardage plays during Eagles drives, Detroit has a chance to pull off what Las Vegas oddsmakers would deem a mild upset. That's easier said than done, and if anything, the odds of a bounce-back for Philadelphia are equally possible considering the 66 points the Eagles scored in their previous matchup. Either way, the blueprint is at least out there.
Sheppard, who could be coaching for a future head coaching role in the NFL or at the collegiate ranks, just has to follow it. Even if it was crafted by Jeff Hafley and the Packers.