Football fans have short memories. Honestly, between the constant stream of fantasy football updates, injury reports, and betting odds, it’s easy to lose track of who actually faced off on the gridiron. If you’re asking did the Lions play the Eagles, you’re probably trying to settle a debate or figure out why you don't remember a "Bird vs. Cat" showdown recently.
They didn't.
During the 2024-2025 NFL regular season, the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles did not play each other. It’s a quirk of the NFL’s scheduling algorithm that two of the biggest heavyweights in the NFC managed to avoid a head-to-head collision for months. If you feel like you saw them play, you might be thinking of the 2022 season opener or a high-stakes preseason memory. But for the 18-week grind of the 2024 season? Nothing.
Why the Lions and Eagles Didn't Meet in the Regular Season
The NFL schedule isn’t random. It’s a formula. Every year, teams play their division rivals twice, one AFC division, and one NFC division. For 2024, the Lions (NFC North) were slated to play the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Eagles (NFC East) were matched up against the NFC South.
Because they weren't in the same division and their "intraconference" rotation didn't align, the only way they would have met was through the "standings" rule. This rule dictates that teams play opponents from the other two divisions in their conference that finished in the same seed position the previous year. In 2023, the Lions won the NFC North. The Eagles, however, finished second in the NFC East after a late-season collapse that saw the Cowboys take the crown.
That one-seed difference kept them apart.
It’s actually a bit of a tragedy for neutral fans. We’re talking about two of the most physical offensive lines in football. You have Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker in Detroit, arguably the best tackle duo in the league, against the sheer depth of Philly’s defensive front. We missed out on seeing Aidan Hutchinson (before his injury) chasing Saquon Barkley. We missed the schematic chess match between Dan Campbell’s aggressive fourth-down philosophy and Nick Sirianni’s "Tush Push" efficiency.
The History of the Detroit-Philadelphia Rivalry
When they do play, it’s usually chaos. Remember the "Snow Bowl" in 2013? That’s the game most people think of when these two franchises are mentioned in the same breath. Megatron—Calvin Johnson—literally had a facemask full of snow. LeSean McCoy looked like he was ice skating while everyone else was stuck in mud. Philly won that one 34-20, but it remains one of the most visually iconic games in NFL history.
📖 Related: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
Since 1933, these teams have played 35 times. The Eagles lead the all-time series 18-16-1. It’s remarkably close.
Their last real meeting was the 2022 season opener. That was a high-scoring 38-35 thriller where the Eagles barely escaped Ford Field. That game was actually the catalyst for the "New Lions" narrative. Even though Detroit lost, they proved they could go toe-to-toe with an Eagles team that eventually went to the Super Bowl.
Why This Matchup Matters for the NFC Power Structure
Even though did the Lions play the Eagles results in a "no" for the regular season, these two teams are constantly compared because they are built so similarly. Both organizations prioritize the "trenches."
- The Offensive Line Philosophy: Both Howie Roseman (Eagles GM) and Brad Holmes (Lions GM) believe that if you win the line of scrimmage, you win the game.
- Dynamic Playmakers: Both teams moved away from traditional "one-trick" offenses. The Eagles added Saquon Barkley to complement A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The Lions countered with the dual-threat backfield of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown.
- Aggressive Coaching: Dan Campbell and Nick Sirianni are two of the most polarizing and aggressive coaches in the league. They don’t punt when they should. They go for two. They wear their emotions on their sleeves.
The lack of a regular-season game only fueled the fire for a potential playoff meeting. In the NFC hierarchy, Detroit and Philadelphia have been the "1a" and "1b" to the San Francisco 49ers for the last two years. When they don't play in the regular season, the "who is better" debate becomes purely theoretical, which drives sports talk radio absolutely insane.
Looking at the Statistical Comparison
If they had played, the numbers suggest it would have been a coin flip. The Lions' run defense was a top-five unit for most of the year. Stopping Saquon Barkley is the key to beating Philly. On the flip side, the Eagles' secondary struggled at times with explosive slot receivers, which is exactly where Amon-Ra St. Brown does his best work.
Jared Goff’s resurgence in Detroit has been nothing short of spectacular. He’s gone from a "throwaway" piece in the Matthew Stafford trade to a legitimate MVP candidate. Jalen Hurts, while dealing with some turnover issues earlier in the season, remains the ultimate dual-threat weapon.
Imagine a cold January game at Lincoln Financial Field. The noise. The hostility. The Lions’ "grit" culture versus Philly’s "no one likes us, we don't care" attitude. That’s the game the NFL world deserved in 2024 but didn't get until the postseason brackets started to take shape.
👉 See also: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
What Fans Often Misunderstand About NFL Scheduling
A lot of people ask did the Lions play the Eagles because they assume good teams play other good teams every year. That’s how college football works (mostly), but the NFL is rigid.
The league expanded to 17 games a few years ago. This 17th game is often an interconference matchup based on standings—NFC vs AFC. It doesn't help solve the problem of missing out on high-profile matchups within the same conference.
If the Lions and Eagles both win their respective divisions this year, they are guaranteed to play in 2025. That’s the beauty of the NFL's "parity" scheduling. The league wants the giants to clash eventually.
The Playoff Implications of Their Missing Matchup
Because they didn't play head-to-head, tiebreakers became a nightmare. In the NFL, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. If you haven't played, it moves to "record against common opponents," and then "conference record."
This meant that every game the Lions played against the Cowboys or Giants had a massive ripple effect on the Eagles' seeding, even though the Lions and Eagles never touched the same turf. Fans were forced to "scoreboard watch" all season.
- Lions fans were rooting for whoever played the Eagles to lose, hoping to secure home-field advantage.
- Eagles fans were tracking Detroit’s divisional games in the NFC North, praying for a slip-up against the Packers or Bears.
Breaking Down the Key Players Who Would Have Defined the Game
If this game had appeared on the 2024 calendar, the individual matchups would have been legendary.
Penei Sewell vs. Brandon Graham/Josh Sweat: Sewell is a generational talent. Watching him navigate the Eagles' veteran pass rush would have been a masterclass in technique.
✨ Don't miss: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s Revenge: Remember, C.J. Gardner-Johnson has played for both teams. He’s one of the loudest players in the league. His return to Philly or a game against his former teammates in Detroit is always high-octane. He brings a level of trash talk that elevates the stakes.
The Gibbs Factor: Philadelphia’s linebackers have been a revolving door of "fine but not great" talent. Jahmyr Gibbs’ ability to catch passes out of the backfield would have been a nightmare for the Eagles' defensive scheme.
Common Misconceptions About These Two Teams
One common myth is that the Lions are a "dome team" that can't play in the elements. While they do play in Ford Field, Dan Campbell has built a roster that thrives on "biting kneecaps" in the mud.
Another myth is that the Eagles' "Tush Push" (or Brotherly Shove) is unstoppable. Actually, the Lions’ interior defensive line, led by Alim McNeill, is one of the few units with the raw power to potentially stone that play at the goal line.
Actionable Steps for Football Fans
Since the regular season didn't give us this matchup, here is how you can prepare for the inevitable future clash:
- Study the 2025 Scheduling Formula: Check the final 2024 standings. Since both teams finished as top contenders in their divisions, mark your calendars for 2025. They are almost certain to meet.
- Watch the "All-22" Tape: If you want to see how they stack up, watch their games against common opponents like the Cowboys or the Buccaneers. Look at how their lines handle similar defensive fronts.
- Monitor the Salary Cap: Both teams have massive contracts coming up for their stars. How the Eagles handle their aging veterans and how the Lions pay their young core (like Aidan Hutchinson's eventual mega-extension) will determine if these teams remain at the top of the NFC.
- Check the Injury Reports: If you're looking back at why a specific team looked better during a certain stretch of the season, check who was on IR. The Lions losing Hutchinson was a massive blow that changed their defensive identity.
The question of did the Lions play the Eagles is simple to answer, but the reasons behind it—and the implications for the NFC—are complex. We missed a classic in 2024. Let's hope the scheduling gods (or the playoff bracket) are kinder next time.