We all know that the Detroit Lions' defense wasn't given a fair shake during the 2024 postseason due to injuries. They were missing Aidan Hutchinson for much of the year, and then dealt with injury to Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis III, Alex Anzalone, Mekhi Wingo...the list is lengthy, in other words.
This year, the team is expected to have much more pop defensively with the return of Hutchinson, the addition of D.J. Reed to the secondary, and with a lot less names etched onto the injury list for Week 1.
That's always going to be the difference between teams able to make it to the postseason and survive there, and those that sputter to the end - health. Being able to keep together a core defense, like that of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, for example - is huge to winning hostile playoff games where momentum can shift at the drop of a hat.
Detroit is set to learn that lesson this season, as they hopefully keep their solid defensive core healthy up until their Week 11 matchup against the Eagles - a game that has been marked as a "must watch" match by The Athletic.
Lions-Eagles game named must-watch game
The Athletic compiled a list of must watch games for all 32 teams in the league after every schedule has been released, with the Lions' section having their Week 11 game against the Eagles labeled as their most anticipated of the regular season.
"If the Lions were a healthier team down the stretch last year, they might’ve met the Eagles in the 2025 NFC Championship Game. However, Philly went on to win the Super Bowl, while the Lions were forced to watch at home. This year’s contest could again have major NFC implications. These are two of the strongest rosters in the conference and league at-large," wrote The Athletic's NFL staff.
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They are absolutely two of the strongest teams in the NFC this season, with the rest of the NFC North really pushing Detroit to be at their absolute best for 2025. The NFC East, which hosts the Eagles, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders, will be a two-team race between the Eagles and Commanders.
Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit will be the teams most desperate for healthy defenses down the stretch. All three can earnestly compete for a Super Bowl appearance if they're able to get through the dog days of the NFL season. If they all are, then Week 11 suddenly becomes a very realistic NFC Championship game preview.
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