Paul Domowitch's Eagles-Lions scouting report

Recent history: The Eagles were routed in Detroit last Thanksgiving, 45-14. The Eagles lead the series, which dates to 1933, 16-14-2.

WHEN THE EAGLES RUN THE BALL

Doug Pederson is committed to running the ball. The Eagles are tied for third in the league in rushing attempts per game (32), but are just 21st in yards per attempt (3.7). Ryan Mathews is supposed to be their bell cow running back, but has durability issues, including, most recently, a sore left ankle. After carrying the ball 22 times in Week 1, he's lugged it just 11 times since. That has opened the door for backups Kenjon Barner and rookie Wendell Smallwood, who combined for 121 yards and two TDs vs. Pittsburgh. Smallwood and Barner have eight runs of 10 yards or more in just 34 carries. QB Carson Wentz is a running threat, but the Eagles so far have discouraged him from doing much of that. He has just nine carries. The Lions have not been particularly good against the run. They're allowing 4.8 yards per carry, third most in the league.

EDGE: Eagles

WHEN THE EAGLES PASS THE BALL

It's going to be tempting to have Carson Wentz air it out a lot against a defense that has a league-worst 120.2 opponent passer rating. The Lions already have given up 12 touchdown passes in four games. Opposing QBs have completed 70.7 percent of their passes. Slot corner Quandre Diggs is just 5-9, which means Jordan Matthews is going to have a major size advantage inside. The Lions also are without their best pass rusher, DE Ziggy Ansah, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Wentz has played with the poise of a 10-year veteran so far. Still hasn't thrown a pick in 102 attempts. Sixty-six of his passes have been throws of 10 yards or less. He's completed 75.7 percent of those. With the return of Zach Ertz, the Eagles are expected to run a lot of three-tight end sets against a defense that already has given up six TD passes to tight ends.

EDGE: Eagles

WHEN THE LIONS RUN THE BALL

After averaging just 22 rushing attempts per game last season, Jim Caldwell had hoped to strike a better run-pass balance with his offense. But the Lions suffered a major blow in Week 2 when their best runner, Ameer Abdullah, went down with a season-ending foot injury. With Abdullah, the Lions had averaged 5.4 yards per carry in the first two games. Without him, they have averaged just 2.8. Theo Riddick has replaced Abdullah as the primary ballcarrier. But Riddick is a much better receiver than runner. He is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. The Lions are starting to work in 6-1, 221-pound rookie Dwayne Washington. The Lions' offensive line includes three first-rounders, but the first-round pedigree hasn't shown in their play. The Eagles' run defense really hasn't been tested. Their first three opponents averaged just 16.3 rushing attempts per game.

EDGE: Eagles

WHEN THE LIONS PASS THE BALL

Matthew Stafford has averaged more pass attempts per game - 39.7 - than any quarterback in NFL history. He has one of the league's strongest arms, though not always one of the most accurate ones. He certainly was accurate last Thanksgiving when he completed 27 of 38 passes for 337 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-14 dismemberment of the Eagles. But the man who caught eight of those 27 passes and three of those five TDs - Calvin Johnson - has retired. Stafford still has some weapons, but none that give DBs the kind of sleepless nights Johnson did. Marvin Jones is averaging 21.0 yards per catch. Theo Riddick, who undressed LB Mychal Kendricks last year, is one of the league's top pass-catching backs. The Eagles are the only team in the league that has yet to give up a passing TD. And they are second in sacks per pass play.

EDGE: Lions

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Eagles are second in the league in average drive start on kickoffs by their opponent (22.8). Twelve of Caleb Sturgis' 20 KOs have resulted in touchbacks. On the other eight, opponents have averaged just 18.5 yards per return. P Donnie Jones is just 28th in net average (36.7), but has only had two of his 15 attempts returned. Sturgis has made 7 of 8 field-goal attempts and 9 of 10 PATs. Lions P Sam Martin leads the league in net average (47.0). He has put 8 of his 16 attempts inside the 20 and has no touchbacks. PK Matt Prater has one of the league's strongest legs. He's 16-for-20 from 50-plus yards over the last four years. Since the start of the 2013 season, he has an 89.3 overall FG accuracy rate. The Lions are fifth in punt coverage and ninth in kickoff coverage. Andre Roberts had an 85-yard punt return for a TD last week against the Bears.

EDGE: Eagles

INTANGIBLES

While the Lions are 1-3, their losses have been by a total of 11 points. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was the Lions' head coach for five years (2009-13). He returned there in 2014 when he was Buffalo's defensive coordinator. The Bills won, 17-14.

EDGE: Even

Domo's prediction: Eagles 24, Lions 20

KEY MATCHUPS

1. Eagles RDE Connor Barwin vs. Lions LT Taylor Decker: Decker is a rookie who probably is better suited for the right side. Barwin is an eight-year veteran with 46 1/2 career sacks. ADVANTAGE: Eagles

2. Eagles WR Jordan Matthews vs. Lions NCB Quandre Diggs: Matthews has been lining up both inside and outside. Look for him to line up inside quite a bit to take advantage of a 6-inch height advantage over the 5-9 Diggs. ADVANTAGE: Eagles

3. Eagles LBs Nigel Bradham, Jordan Hicks and Mychal Kendricks vs. Lions RB Theo Riddick: The Eagles have done a good job in coverage so far against opposing RBs and TEs. But Riddick, who gave the Eagles fits last year, is one of the league's top pass-catching backs. ADVANTAGE: Lions

Hot and Not

HOT

Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox. Had two of Eagles' four sacks of Ben Roethlisberger in 31-point win over the Steelers.

Lions: DE Kerry Hyder. The former practice-squadder is the NFC leader in sacks with five.

NOT

Eagles: RB Ryan Mathews. Slowed by a sore ankle, he had just two carries (for -5 yards) against the Steelers. Is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry the last two games.

Lions: WR Golden Tate. Had one catch for one yard vs. Bears. Is averaging just 6.8 yards per catch.

@Pdomo Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog