PHILADELPHIA _ It shouldn't have been so difficult, but things rarely come so easy for the Detroit Lions. Following a blocked field goal, it took an offensive pass interference call and a dropped pass in the closing seconds to preserve a hard-fought 27-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins blocked a 46-yard Matt Prater field-goal attempt inside two minutes remaining, giving the Eagles a chance to tie or take the lead. But a fourth-and-5 conversion was waived off when it was ruled running back Darren Sproles pushed off to make the catch.
It marked the fourth time the Eagles were flagged for offensive pass interference in the game.
Now facing fourth-and-15, quarterback Carson Wentz's deep throw floated over the extended arms of Lions cornerback Rashaan Melvin, but bounced off the hands of rookie receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, preserving Detroit's victory.
The action was relentless from the start of the game as the team's combined for 24 points on the game's first four possessions. The Eagles took the opening kickoff down to the Lions' 7-yard line before stalling and settling for a 25-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
The Lions wasted little time responding. Coming back from a benching last week, return man Jamal Agnew got a block from J.D. McKissic to bring the kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown.
The counter punch came in the form of a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive for the Eagles. On third-and-6 from Detroit's 20, Wentz scrambled up the gut for 19 yards and running back Jordan Howard capped the series with a 1-yard run off right tackle.
Getting their first crack on offense with 6:15 remaining in the opening quarter, the Lions answered with a long touchdown drive of their own. Converting three third downs on the possession, Kerryon Johnson leaped across the goal line to put the Lions up, 14-10, early in the second quarter.
After a pair of punts, the Lions extended their lead thanks to a pair of turnovers. Fumbles by rookie running back Miles Sanders and wide receiver Nelson Agholor turned into a pair of field goals, giving the Lions a 20-10 lead at the half.
The scoring slowed to start the second half before the Eagles put together a touchdown drive late in the third quarter. On third down, Agholor took a short pass from Wentz, ran through a tackle attempt by safety Quandre Diggs and waltzed into the end zone.
But again the Lions quickly countered. Quarterback Matthew Stafford beat an Eagles blitz on third down for a 27-yard gain to Marvin Jones and finished the touchdown drive by connecting with Jones on a 12-yard crosser.
For the series, Stafford completed four of his five throws for 71 yards and the score.The Eagles closed the gap back to three with 4:32 remaining in the game when Wentz connected with Agholor again, this time from 2 yards out. Lions defenders Trey Flowers and Jarrad Davis each committed personal foul infractions in the red zone, with Flowers late hit on Wentz coming on third down.
After a Lions punt, the Eagles turned it over on downs, setting up the blocked field goal and the game's dramatic ending sequence.
The unbeaten Lions (2-0-1) return home to face the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday.
