Random stats: Lions vs Eagles

Is everyone having fun yet? The Lions are 1-3, wrecked with injuries and heading into a matchup with the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are coming off a bye with a rookie quarterback that's making analysts sell their soul just to say they knew he would be this good. The future looks bleak for the Lions. This is one of those games that looks like a sure loss. But random stats isn't about the future. It's about the past. So let's go there.

The first of few

Way back in October of 1933, the Lions played the Philadelphia Eagles for the very first time. This was actually the sixth game in Eagles history. The Eagles were an expansion team at the time that took the place of the defunct Frankford Yellow Jackets, who went bankrupt two years earlier.

Led by Glenn Presnell, the Lions would go on to beat Red Kirkman and the Eagles, 25-0 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia.

The rest of few

Over the next 83 years, the Lions and Eagles would square off just 31 times. One of those times being in the playoffs in 1995. The Eagles currently hold the lead in the matchup with a record of 16-14-2 over the Lions. The Lions are tied in the series at 9-9 on the road, 5-7-2 at home and 0-1 in the playoffs. Speaking of that playoff game, the Lions were clobbered by the Eagles, 58-37. The quarterback for the Eagles? Your good old friend Rodney Peete.

Speaking of something different, let's talk home games

The Eagles have traveled to the Motor City 14 times. Some interesting things about those 14 games. Both ties the Lions and Eagles have fought to were in Detroit. One in 1954 and the other in 1984. The Eagles have sent a different quarterback to Detroit every time except for once. Ron Jaworski led the Eagles to a win and a tie in 1977 and 1984 respectively. If you ask him, he'll probably tell you he's watched the tape 500 times in the last day.

Rookie

This Sunday won't be the first time the Lions have welcomed an Eagles rookie quarterback. This will be the second. The last time was 78 years ago in 1938. When then rookie Woody Dow led the Eagles to a 21-7 win over the Lions. One has to wonder if there will be a similar outcome this time.

Recently

The Lions do have something to be positive about... sort of. The Lions have won two of the last three meetings against the Eagles. It almost would have been three, but the Lions lost the snow bowl to the Eagles back in 2013. The Lions have scored at least 20 points in all three of those games. The Lions have also outscored the Eagles 292-274 at home over the course of their 14 game series. Those could be good signs.