Is Lions' 2022 Season Opener with Eagles a Must Win?

Read more on whether the Detroit Lions' 2022 season opener with the Philadelphia Eagles is a must-win game.

Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are looking to make a significant improvement in the win-loss column headed into the 2022 season. 

Campbell, in his first season with the Lions in 2021, led the team to a 3-13-1 record and a last-place finish in the NFC North division. 

Additionally, Detroit didn't win its first game of the season until Week 13, which came in a 29-27 victory against the division rival Minnesota Vikings.

Thus, pressure will be on Campbell, in his second season as a full-time NFL head coach, to not only get the Lions to be more competitive on a weekly basis but also to produce more wins. 

Speaking of being more competitive, Detroit will have the chance to prove it is just that in its Week 1 contest with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Remember, a season ago, the Eagles went in to Ford Field and blew out Campbell & Co., 44-6, in a Week 8 matchup. It was the Lions' biggest margin of defeat last season, as well as arguably the team's most embarrassing and deflating loss of the campaign.

It was scary how bad Detroit, despite its rebuilding state, looked in this game, a contest which took place on Halloween. 

It was a horrendous effort put forth by Campbell's squad. For starters, the Lions trailed, 38-0, going into the fourth quarter, and failed to score a single point until the 7:14 mark in the quarter.

Additionally, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles thrashed the Lions on the ground, outrushing Detroit on the day, 236-57.

Although Philadelphia was a significantly better team than Detroit in 2021, it was still inexcusable (especially at home), and a performance like that can't be allowed even once this upcoming season. 

Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports

Fast-forward to the Lions' '22 season opener against the Eagles, which happens to be taking place once again at Ford Field.

Philadelphia, coming off a 9-8 season which culminated in a 31-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card round of the playoffs, is still considered to be a stronger team than Detroit. 

Yet, it's no reason for the Lions to lay an egg in this Week 1 tilt.

Detroit will enter the season with an improved roster, specifically with a deeper receivers room and a more potent pass rush. The Lions are also expected to have a healthy offensive line for the start of the season, which should lead to increased production from running backs D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, and the rest of the team's backfield.

So, this game is more winnable for Detroit than it looks on paper. And, a win could go a long way toward proving to the team's fanbase that the Lions will be a much more relevant bunch than a year ago.

Detroit must put the memory of last season's ugly loss to Philadelphia behind it, and go into this contest with all the confidence in the world that it can start off the 2022 campaign 1-0. And with that said, the Lions must play with a high level of energy, resembling the energy exuded by their sideline boss in Campbell, from start to finish. 

That is what Detroit must do in its season-opening matchup with the Eagles.

The Lions do not have to win this game. Thus, I wouldn't go so far as labeling it a must-win contest. But, they must showcase, to the fans and pundits alike, that they can hang with a postseason contender like Philadelphia for 60 minutes.