Week 11 presents one of the defining moments of the Philadelphia Eagles’ season thus far.
At 7–2 and in firm control of the NFC East, the Eagles return home after an ugly win at Lambeau Field to face a Detroit Lions team that’s beginning to stack statement performances.
For the Lions at 6–3, fresh off a 44–22 dismantling of Washington, they roll into Lincoln Financial Field with one of the most balanced, explosive offensive units in football. For the Eagles, a complete defensive effort will be needed to stay atop the conference hierarchy, led by one of the youngest faces in the locker room in rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell — whose impact could flip Week 11 on its head.
Campbell ready to cause havoc on Lions' offense in Week 11
Philadelphia's first-rounder out of Alabama back in April, Campbell entered the league with elite athletic tools and a play style built for modern defenses. And Philadelphia drafted him to be the next centerpiece of their second level: rangy enough to handle space, physical enough to take on blocks, and explosive sufficient to erase mistakes with downhill closing speed.
But what he walks into this week against Detroit is the biggest challenge of his young NFL career.
Everything the Lions do offensively flows through Jahmyr Gibbs. Whether it’s inside zone, outside zone, counter, pitch, or quick game through the air, Gibbs is the engine. His presence forces linebackers to widen, to hesitate, to recover at angles that few backs in the league can force.
Detroit layers their offense around that gravity -- Sam LaPorta running crossers behind flowing linebackers, Amon-Ra St. Brown working intermediate windows, and deep shots becoming available when defenses overcommit to stopping Gibbs.
The first job, the essential job, is limiting No. 0. And that responsibility falls heavily on Campbell.
Lined up next to veteran Zach Baun in Vic Fangio’s structure, Campbell is tasked with owning the A and B gaps on early downs, scraping over the top with discipline, and fitting zone runs with both balance and acceleration.
His ability to take on pulling guards, disengage with force, and meet Gibbs at or behind the line of scrimmage will dictate whether the Eagles can put Detroit behind the sticks, and if they can, Philly gains access to their full coverage menu; if they can’t, the Lions’ offense remains unpredictable, and you could quickly find yourself down two scores before the end of the first stanza.
But Campbell’s value extends beyond run defense. Detroit thrives in the middle of the field, using its speed and timing to stress linebackers both vertically and horizontally. Coverage snaps against Gibbs out of the backfield, LaPorta up the seam, and St. Brown on option routes will require Campbell to flip his hips cleanly, match stride patterns, and anticipate leverage cues like a veteran.
Games like this, matchups like this, are why the Eagles spent Day 1 capital on Campbell, and Week 11 presents one heck of a test for the young 'backer.
If Campbell plays fast, takes proper angles, and consistently defeats blocks in isolation, the Eagles can blunt Detroit’s momentum early and control possession. If he hesitates, loses gap integrity, or takes poor pursuit angles, Gibbs will punish every mistake. All it takes is a split second.
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For a rookie, the assignment is massive. But for Philadelphia, his performance may be the hinge that determines whether Week 11 becomes a statement -- or a setback.