Lions vs. Eagles 2013: Philadelphia overcomes snow, Lions for 8th win

McCoy exploded for 216 yards -- 162 of them coming in the second half -- and ran for two touchdowns as he fueled the Eagles 34-20 comeback win. He had touchdown runs of 40 and and 57 yards in the fourth quarter as Philly overcame a 14-0 deficit to end the game on a 34-6 run.

Not only did McCoy’s record-setting day come in a snow globe, it came against a quality defensive unit, Brandon Lee Gowton explains at Bleeding Green Nation.

It’s easy to see 217 total yards in isolation and write off the number. It’s impressive to be sure, but there have been bigger running performances and more touchdowns. What sets McCoy’s day apart was the weather, which he managed better than any other player on the field. Take a look at his rushing yards in context.

A lot is made of what head coach Chip Kelly has done for quarterbacks, but his offense has revolutionized how McCoy runs. He is on pace for over 1,600 rushing yards, and could belong in the MVP conversation -- if not for a few stellar quarterbacks.

Three teams played on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field -- the Lions, Eagles and Jack Frost. The game became less about two teams playing each other, and more about who could handle the conditions best. Ultimately, it was Philadelphia that better handled the conditions, surging in the fourth quarter to win, 34-20.

It became clear from the first kickoff that it was going to be a very different game. Players needed to change their approach to match conditions most have never seen in their careers. Special teams were most heavily affected, with kickers and punters struggling to plant correctly.

The Eagles recovered, which is bad, since they scored on the next drive to virtually end the game. It doesn’t have the name brand recognition value of MANNING FACE, but STAFFORD FACE is incredible as well. It’s not even his first run-in with poor-snap fear:

via cdn3.sbnation.com

For the first 45-odd minutes of Eagles-Lions, nobody attempted a kick, because THE DAMN FIELD WAS COVERED IN 42,000 FEET OF SNOW. No field goals, no PAT’s, no anything. Just punts and two-point conversions.

But after scoring -- on a kickoff return TD -- to make the game 20-14, Jim Schwartz decided to have the Lions set up for a point-after attempt.

The snow is unquestionably killing Philadelphia’s passing game. Just over 10 minutes remain in the first half and Foles has completed one pass in five attempts, throwing for only two yards. The interception brought his passer rating to 0.0, world’s apart from the 125.2 rating he carried into Week 14.

Things can only go up from here for Foles, because it’s mathematically impossible to finish with a negative passer rating. To reach that point he first needs to manage the weather, which seems too much for him.

Time for some patented mascot antics! HUH WHAT WHOAAAA

Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, you birdbrain.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is having the most trouble. He has fumbled the snap three times, but managed to regain control on each fumble. Passing the ball is a liability for both teams, but Stafford is doing a better job throwing -- completing three passes for 36 yards.

It’s unclear how either team will score. Two potent offenses are being derailed by the heavy snow, and offensive players are struggling to see the ball.

We love snow football. We think all football games should be played in some sort of cold precipitation, because it reminds us of one time of the year schoolyard touch football games turned into tackle football games with no major injuries. (Also, grit and miserable fans.)

However, there is altogether too much snow in Eagles-Lions, which is apparently being played in 20,000 B.C.

Bush has appeared in 11 games this season, missing one game earlier in the year. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports that he will attempt to play.

• Complete NFL Week 14 coverage

Foles has won the war.

After Vick was injured, again, it opened the door for Foles to show that he was better than his performance as a rookie under Andy Reid. Had it not been for Vick getting hurt, there is a good chance that Kelly might not have ever made the switch. Vick was posting 8.6 yards per pass attempt and 9.1 yards per carry in Kelly’s offense, though Philadelphia was only 2-4 when he started.

Game Date/Time and Location: Sunday, Dec. 8, 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.

TV schedule and distribution map: Fox; The506.com

Either way, it’s the Eagles who are favored to win this week’s game. The Eagles opened as narrow 2-point favorites, but the line began moving in their favor throughout the week, according to OddsShark. Early on, the Eagles could be had favored by as much as 3 points.

These two teams are probably closer to equal in the eyes of the odds makers, but the game being played in Philadelphia tips the scales slightly. The over/under for the matchup is set at a high 54 points. That total has gone over in 16 of Detroit’s last 24 games on the road, but under in four of Detroit’s last six on the road. It’s also gone over in five of Detroit’s last seven games, and under in five of Philadelphia last six. Are you confused yet?

They may just end up showing that on the field, as well. When it comes to SB Nation’s panel of six experts, it certainly seems likely. Five of the six picked the Eagles to win, with Joel Thorman picking Detroit. Ryan Van Bibber, Jason Chilton, Stephen White, David Fucillo and Matt Ufford all picked Philadelphia.

It’s a different story over at CBS Sports. Of their eight experts, six picked the Lions to win this one on the road, including Pete Prisco and Jason La Canfora. Ryan Wilson and Jamey Eisenberg were those who picked the Eagles. Of the 13 experts over at ESPN, nine chose the Eagles to win.