DT Beau Allen (94) says Eagles will not take anyone lightly. Photo by Jesse Simmers / contrastphotography.com

The Detroit Lions only win this season was 39-35 decision against the Indianapolis in the team’s season opener. Since then the Lions have reeled off three consecutive losses by a combined total of 11 points.

Detroit (1-3) will host the Eagles (3-0) Sunday (1 p.m. FOX, WIP 94.1 FM) in a game seen as a revenge game for the Eagles on many levels.

Last year, the Chip Kelly-led Birds were embarrassed on national television on Thanksgiving Day 45-14.
Four weeks later Kelly was gone and the Eagles started on the path to open a new era.

There are many new faces on both teams including linebacker Stephen Tulloch who played for Detroit last season.

But the memory of the loss remains for many Eagles players who endured that afternoon.

Tight end Brent Celek was asked what he remembered from that loss.

“We played terrible,” Celek said. “We just didn’t play well. “We have to play better this year.”
Defensive tackle Beau Allen remembered the loss and said even though the staff is new and he has many new teammates, playing in Detroit just 11 months later is still thinks about.

“They beat us handily,” Allen said. “Obviously we have a new coaching staff and a new scheme and a new season, but that (loss) is still something you keep in mind.”

Allen said he and his teammates are aware Detroit has been in every game but has not closed out games
over the last three weeks. He said the Lions are tough and the Eagles were not paying attention to their record.

“You don’t really think about that as much,” Allen said. “Obviously they’ve been in a lot of close games so far. I think that’s just a testament to the National Football League and how talented it is from top to bottom. You can get beat by anybody on any day. You never take your opponent lightly and you know that they are going to be in it until the end they are going to fight for it.”

The Lions will be led by quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The veteran signal caller is having a solid season. After four games Stafford is 104 of 156 for 1198 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. He has rushed eight times for 64 yards. Stafford has also been sacked 10 times.

Allen said Stafford is not a pocket passer alone.

“I think he’s a good combination of both,” said Allen, who has three tackles on the season. “He’s not afraid to scramble around, run around and make plays whether it’s to pick up a first down with his feet or run around until a receiver gets open. You just have to be aware of where he is at all times.”

The Eagles will be led by rookie sensation Carson Wentz. The quarterback, the No. 2 overall pick, has turned heads from the start of game one.

Wentz is 66 of 102 for 769 yards and five touchdown passes. He has not turned the ball over at all and has been sacked just four times.

The Eagles had scored first in all three games, a feat not lost on linebacker Brandon Graham.

“It motivates us to keep getting stops!” Graham said emphatically. “It’s a good way to start the game, a good way to take the air out of them, get that momentum swinging.”

Jim Schwartz the defensive coordinator for the Eagles, was Detroit’s head coach for five seasons (2009–2013). His only winning season was in 2011 when the Lions went 10-6 and made the playoffs as a Wild Card team losing to New Orleans Saints in the first round.

Schwartz was fired after the 2013 season. Of course the head coach was asked if he had any revenge on his mind in putting together his game plan.

“It would give us a chance to go 4-0,” Schwartz said at his weekly press conference “It’s an NFC team, so yeah, it’s personal that way, but as far as the Lions, I think you guys would probably be surprised how much I root for the Lions. As long as it’s not in direct conflict with the Eagles, I want those guys to win every week. I’ve got too much blood and sweat in that building, and there’s a lot of guys there that mean an awful lot to me. Start with [Lions QB Matthew] Stafford and [TE Brandon] Pettigrew and [LB DeAndre] Levy. Those guys were my first draft class. I want those guys to succeed. I don’t want them to succeed this Sunday. I’m going to do my very best to try to beat them, but I think everybody would be surprised how much you have relationships that just don’t go away when you leave or a player leaves. Those guys have had my back when I coached there, and I’ve had their back, and I’m sure that’ll continue. Not this Sunday, though.”

The Eagles as a team are not showing much emotion headed to the Motor City.

“We’re different team,” Celek said. “We have different players in different positions. I think we’re playing better but we have to bring it every single game.”

Prediction: Eagles 26-Detroit 19.

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii