How They'll Lose

Week Three vs. Detroit

by Brian Hickey

If you're not convinced that Mike Tice would be the quintessential Secret Santa, well, you're probably a delusional Eagles fan who thinks Monday night's win should count in the standings. Simply put, the Minnesota Vikings' head coach is the gift giver that keeps on giving gifts.

Big present No. 1: He didn't throw the replay flag on T.O.'s non-TD.

Big present No. 2: He didn't call many deep balls to Randy Moss. (Why bother? He's only one of the best receivers in the league.)

Had the Birds been playing a well-coached team without a fumble-prone quarterback, their 27-16 win would have been a 37-20 loss. (OK, maybe 30-20. Nate Wayne's goal-line strip stands up there with the epic seven-play, 1-yard line stand against the Cardinals during the Reggie White era.) But enough about what was, let's talk about what will be. As in, this weekend's matchup at Ford Field, the Eagles' first road trip of this young season.

The only thing more dangerous than an adversary with nothing to lose is a young, talented, undefeated adversary that's starting to believe in itself with one game to go until its bye week. In other words, the Detroit Lions.

Sure they lost stud receiver Charles Rogers for the year, but rookie Roy Williams is already becoming the dynamic, go-to guy QB Joey Harrington needs in his make-or-break third year. The Lions are playing loose enough to beat a superior foe that might, just might, underestimate them. This, people, is how worst-to-first stories start.

The Eagles will go up early—say by 14 points—and coast through the second half. Next thing they know, a long Williams TD and another punt-return TD from Eddie Drummond will provide the smelling salts. Then, it'll come down to a coin flip and …

Lions 23, Eagles 20 (in OT).

--Brian Hickey

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