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Zac Snyder: The Eagles visit to Detroit will be a homecoming of sorts for a couple players that now call Philadelphia home. Is there any buzz from Ernie Sims or Brandon Graham about Sunday’s game?

Ryan Messick: Brandon Graham is very excited about returning to Detroit. He said he’s got more than 100 people coming, and he is still a Lions fan when they aren’t playing the Eagles. Also, here are some Sims quotes for you:

On the perception about the Lions in the city of Detroit:
“Detroit fans, they’re good, they’re real good. I’ve met a ton of genuine fans that have been behind Detroit since [former Lions RB] Barry Sanders and they’ve been good loyal fans. I believe that’s how it’s going to be, this is their home opener, so I believe there’s going to be a lot of emotional fans. It’s going to be a good game, I believe.”

On whether it would feel weird to get his first regular season win in a long time against Detroit, his former team:
“I’m just trying – my first day is preparation – to get better today, so come game time I’m ready.”

On whether he has told his teammates about the Lions being a much improved football team:
“I told them that they’re good, that they’re a good ball club; well-coached, eager players. And that’s how I was, an eager player. When you have eager players their effort is through the roof. I think that’s very important when you’re playing football, effort. Effort goes a long way. Like I said before, we have to play real, real good and disciplined football and we have to dominate.”

So Shaun Hill gets the start it looks like. How much of a hit is that to the Lions chances at a win?

ZS: I don’t think it is as much as some people might think. Don’t get me wrong, I would much rather have Matthew Stafford healthy and playing but there are a number of other factors that the Lions will need to worry about to give themselves a chance to win. The Lions couldn’t get anything going on the ground against the Bears and so the offense sputtered, even before Stafford left the game with his shoulder injury. Some of that falls on Jahvid Best but most of it falls on the offensive line. Individuals played fine from time to time but the inconsistency as a unit derailed any chance the Lions had at sustained success on offense.

The Eagles will be starting a second string quarterback of their own, Michael Vick. Given Kevin Kolb’s performance against the Packers, are Eagles fans actually relieved to see Vick get the start? Andy Reid’s statements indicate their won’t be a quarterback controversy when Kolb is healthy enough to play but do the fans agree? (more…)