Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions Preview (9/11/2022): Betting Odds, Prediction, Depth Charts

The Detroit Lions will host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the 2022-23 NFL season. These teams met in Detroit in Week 8 last season when the Eagles clobbered the Lions 44-6, the most lopsided loss of the Lions’ season. Prior to that blowout, the Lions had won four of the previous five matchups against the Eagles. Check out the odds and our prediction for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions matchup.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions Betting Odds

The Eagles are favored in this matchup at -4 on the spread and -200 on the moneyline, and the over/under is set at 48.5. Approximately 65% of bettors are picking the Eagles against the spread and on the moneyline, and over 80% are picking the over in this matchup.

This matchup is getting the second-most action on the Week 1 NFL slate at BetMGM:

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions Prediction

The Eagles enter this matchup with a lot of hype from what was widely considered one of the best off-seasons in the league. Considering the improved roster and relatively good health to start the season, and looking at the result when these two teams played last year, it would be very difficult to bet against the public in this matchup. The Lions seem to be heading in the right direction despite last year’s dismal 3-13-1 season. They played a lot of close games, covered a lot of spreads, and finished the season with some momentum by going 3-3 in their final six games. This game will be closer than many people expect, but the Eagles will score a late touchdown to cover the spread and the over.

Final Score: Eagles 31, Lions 20

Betting Trends

Lions are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a home underdog.
Lions are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games as an underdog.
Eagles are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite.
Eagles are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 road games.
Lions are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games in September.
Eagles are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games in September.

Over is 16-7 in Lions last 23 home games.
Under is 4-1 in Eagles last five road games.
Over is 16-5 in Lions last 21 games in Week 1.
Under is 5-2 in Eagles last seven games in Week 1.
Over is 6-2 in Lions last 8 games in September.
Over is 7-3 in Eagles last 10 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Eagles last five games on turf.

Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings against the Lions.
Over is 8-0 in the last eight meetings between the Eagles and Lions

Key Injuries

Philadelphia Eagles Injuries:
RB Miles Sanders (hamstring) – questionable*
DT Javon Hargrave (toe) – questionable
DB Josiah Scott (hamstring) – questionable
DE Derek Barnett (ribs) – questionable
OT Andre Dillard (arm) – out

*Sanders was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and barring any setbacks is expected to play

Detroit Lions Injuries:
RG Tommy Kraemer (back) – questionable
C Frank Ragnow (groin) – questionable
LB Chris Board (knee) – questionable
K Austin Seibert (groin) – questionable
DL John Cominsky (illness) – questionable
S Ifeatu Melifonwu (hamstring) – questionable
DL Levi Onwuzurike (back) – questionable
LB Julian Okwara (hamstring) – questionable
RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai (back) – out
DE Romeo Okwara (knee) – out
DE Josh Paschal (sports hernia) – out
WR Jameson Williams (ACL) – out

Key Matchups

If the Lions want to keep things close, they will need to win the following matchups. Otherwise, a Philly cover may be a lock.

The Lions Offensive Line vs. the Eagles Defensive Front

The battle in the trenches will be a matchup of strength against strength. The Lions have built one of the best offensive lines in the league, anchored by bookend tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell. However, their offensive line is not playing at full strength. Right guard (and former Eagle) Halapoulivaati Vaitai went on IR this week, and his back up Tommy Kraemer is questionable, as is standout center Frank Ragnow. The Eagles boast a talented and deep defensive front, which was bolstered this offseason with the additions of standout edge rusher Haason Reddick and mammoth rookie defensive tackle Jordan Davis as well as the return of defensive end Brandon Graham from an achilles injury. The strength of the Eagles’ line is on the interior, with veterans Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave along with Davis and second-year DT Milton Williams. With the Lions’ injuries along the interior of their line, the Eagles should be able to create pressure up the middle, which will make it a long afternoon for quarterback Jared Goff.

Lions rookie DE Aidan Hutchinson vs. Eagles LT Jordan Mailata and RT Lane Johnson

Welcome to the NFL, Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions rookie defensive end and No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft will begin his career with a tough test against Mailata (PFF’s third-highest graded offensive tackle last season) and Johnson (10th). The Lions rushed Hutchinson off both sides of the line and from the interior during the preseason, and he showed that he is already their most dangerous defender. The Eagles’ entire offensive line, but especially Mailata and Johnson, will need to prevent Hutchinson from disrupting their offensive game plan and forcing turnovers. We will learn quickly how ready Hutchinson is to beat NFL offensive linemen, and the Lions will need him to generate some pressure on quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Another interesting aspect of this match-up is which player will have an opportunity to show off with a celebratory song and dance.

Will it be Hutchinson?

Or Mailata aka Thingamabob?

Philadelphia Eagles Depth Chart

QB: Jalen Hurts
RB1: Miles Sanders
RB2: Kenneth Gainwell
RB3: Boston Scott
LWR: A.J. Brown
SWR: Quez Watkins
RWR: Devonta Smith
TE1: Dallas Goedert

Detroit Lions Depth Chart

QB: Jared Goff
RB1: D’Andre Swift
RB2: Jamaal Williams
RB3: Craig Reynolds
LWR: DJ Chark
SWR: Amon-Ra St. Brown
RWR: Josh Reynolds
TE1: T.J. Hockenson

Post
Noah hails from Philadelphia and is a diehard Philly sports fan. He graduated from Penn where he was a sports writer and editor for the student newspaper and also spent a summer covering the Baltimore Orioles for MLB.com. He has been playing fantasy sports since before live stats were a thing, and he has enjoyed learning the nuances of DFS in recent years. As a current resident of Florida, he is hoping the wave of sports betting legalization will eventually reach his home state.

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