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Andy Reid, following the narrow loss to the Steelers a week ago, went on and on about the make-up of the 2012 Eagles.

“I like the grit of this football team. I like the toughness of this football team,” said Reid.  “They’re a competitive and tough bunch.”

That was the identity being cultivated through the better part of five games. Michael Vick engineered three game-winning drives; the defense successfully protected each lead. They stood toe-to-toe with the bully Ravens. Took down the Super Bowl champion Giants. A tough loss on the road to the Steelers? Given Pittsburgh’s level of desperation, acceptable.

The loss to the Lions puts everything into question. Detroit jabbed the Eagles in the nose, ripped the win from their loose grip, and pushed them to the ground for good measure.

The Eagles were without two of their key defenders down the stretch and it cost them.

The plan heading into Sunday’s game against the Lions was to switch up the looks on Calvin Johnson to keep him guessing. That tactic was used sparingly early on. By our count, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie lined up over Johnson just three times in the first half. Nnamdi Asomugha was in charge of Megatron the rest of the time.

Johnson ended the half with one catch for 28 yards.

“I was on him most of the game,” said Asomugha. “I think when we got to the fourth quarter there was a lot more trying to give him a different look, give him something else so that he doesn’t get comfortable with one guy. There were sometimes, especially in the fourth quarter, when Dominique would go to him.”

Michael Vick needed about five seconds to gather himself

He had just been asked the first question at his post-game press conference, but wasn’t sure how to explain what had just happened at Lincoln Financial Field: the Eagles blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and losing for the third time in four games.

“I pretty much don’t know what to say,” Vick said. “I mean, we put ourselves in position to win games and we don’t finish, so it’s hard to decipher what mistakes are being made and what’s going on. This is the ultimate team game, and I can’t pinpoint what’s going on in the moment. I have to go back and watch it and assess it myself, but I think the bottom line is we had our chances to win this game.”

A little more than an hour earlier, Vick was feeling good. With 5:18 left in the fourth quarter, the Eagles faced a 3rd-and-4 from their own 30. The Lions blitzed, and Vick saw Jeremy Maclin wide open in the middle of the field. He threw a strike, and Maclin galloped 70 yards to the end zone for the touchdown. The Eagles were up 23-13, and a 4-2 record going into the bye seemed all but a certainty.

Here are instant observations from today’s 26-23 Eagles’ loss against the Lions.

Eagles safety Nate Allen left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent right leg injury.

Allen was trying to cover Calvin Johnson on a shallow cross that went for 37 yards. He was slow to his feet and was forced to exit. Trainers were working on the upper thigh area.

Colt Anderson replaced Allen.

The following Eagles are inactive for today’s 1 p.m. game against the Lions: Trent Edwards, Damaris Johnson, Dion Lewis, Jamar Chaney, Steve Vallos, Nate Menkin and Vinny Curry.

Andy Reid is not used to this.

In his 13 seasons as the Eagles head coach, Reid’s offenses have finished in the top half of the league in scoring 10 times. Overall, they’ve averaged 23.8 points per game.

This year, however, has been a struggle. We’re five games in, and the Eagles are averaging 16 points per game, second-worst in the league, ahead of only the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But there’s reason to believe this group is close to breaking out.

Hey, don’t laugh. I’m being serious here.

Join Sheil and Tim as they chat live from the Linc during today’s Eagles-Lions game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about Sunday’s Eagles-Lions matchup.

Here are 10 things to know about the matchup between the Eagles’ offense and the Lions’ defense. And if you missed the first cheat sheet, click here.

The argument isn’t (or shouldn’t be) whether Nnamdi Asomugha is playing well. For the most part, he is. It’s whether he is living up to the five-year, $60 million deal he signed last offseason.

Right now it’s difficult to build a case that Asomugha is earning his paycheck, considering what Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is doing on the other side of the field. DRC’s numbers are better, and he’s making considerably less coin.

Take a look at the side-by-side comparison of the two corners.

All eyes in Detroit are on safety Louis Delmas, who has yet to play this season after undergoing a knee procedure back in August. He sat out of practice Friday after being listed as a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday.

Question: What are you doing on November 4th? Is your calendar clear? Good. I want you to join me for the American Heart Association’s 2012 Heart Walk! […]

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