Eagles-Lions likely to be heavy on defenses

Expect the defenses to thump their chests Sunday when the Eagles visit the Lions.

Both teams got notable performances from their defensive players last Sunday, while the offenses are still working out the kinks.

And it would be shocking if the offenses finally fly high this week because both will feature backup QBs.

Here is a look at the teams:

Take away that 32-yard TD burning that Packers WR Greg Jennings laid on Eagles CB Ellis Hobbs on Sunday, and the Eagles' secondary came out of the 27-20 loss to the Packers in decent shape. None of the defensive backs are listed on this week's injury report, and none of them are whining about their contracts yet.

Nickel DB Joselio Hansen and rookie S Nate Allen picked off Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, and the entire group allowed just 188 yards passing and no completions longer than Jennings' TD in the third quarter.

If the backs can read Lions QB Shaun Hill like they read Rodgers, Sunday's takeaway ratio could be big for the Birds.

But that's not all. The D-line seems to be hitting on all cylinders, too. End Juqua Parker takes on the Lions with two sacks, and E/T Brandon Graham and E Antwan Barnes have added some push to the rush. End Trent Cole is looking to add a sack to the one he got last Sunday.

Yes, we know the Eagles are ranked third in the the NFL in rushing yards after last week, but those 150 yards against the Packers are a bit misleading. QB Michael Vick accounted for 103 of those yards - 31 on one carry - and while RB LeSean McCoy did manage 25 yards and a 12-yard TD on just four carries in the second half, the run game is unproven so far.

That uncertainty will only be exacerbated with Vick starting against the Lions. Will Vick continue to take carries away from McCoy? Can McCoy, when he is used, pick up where Brian Westbrook left off?

What about blocking now that FB Leonard Weaver is out for the season with a knee injury? Lots of questions with the backfield.

Oh, yeah, don't forget the penalties. The Birds coughed up 80 yards against the Packers. The Lions might not be so forgiving if they get those gifts.

Vick will not be making his first start for the Birds against a patsy defense. The Bears were 0-4 in red-zone TD efficiency against the Lions last week, and Detroit made a huge goal-line stand in the fourth quarter that coach Jim Schwartz called one of the best he'd ever seen.

The Lions' defense also recovered three fumbles and picked off a pass. Four players wound up with sacks, and the Lions had six tackles for a loss of 18 yards against the Bears.

The defensive backs are banged up, and the Eagles could take advantage of that. But the front wall could make up for that by applying pressure and clogging the running lanes.

Take a rushing game ranked last in the NFL and add a career backup QB to the mix and beat a defense that seems to be finding its legs. That what the Lions are trying to do Sunday. It will be quite an achievement if they pull it off.

Rookie RB Jahvid Best rushed for 20 yards on 14 carries - that's a 1.4-yard average - last Sunday against the Bears, and backup QB Hill replaced starter Matthew Stafford late in the second quarter after Stafford hurt his shoulder.

The results were terrible. Yes, the Lions were victimized by the rules and should have won the game on Hill's clutch TD pass to Calvin Johnson. But that was one of the few offensive bright spots in the 19-14 loss.

Hill completed just 9 of 19 for 88 yards, and the Lions were a pathetic 4 for 14 on third-down conversions. They averaged 2.9 yards per offensive play last Sunday.

"We were having a really hard time running the football," Schwartz said. "So take that away from a quarterback, and you're a one-dimensional team."