There won’t be any reunion of coaches, but when the Eagles travel south of the Mason-Dixon Line again to play Tennessee in an inter-conference NFL game, the tension will be thick enough to cut with a knife.

Scheduled for a Sunday 1 p.m. kickoff in Nashville, both teams are coming off close wins and are 2-1. The common thread in the two wins by the Eagles, is the play of the defense in the red zone. Against the Falcons in their season opener, the defense allowed one touchdown out of five chances within the red zone. Then came the loss to Tampa Bay.

On Sunday, once again the defense allowed only one touchdown in five chances in the red zone to Indianapolis. But is it really realistic to think a defense can keep this up? It might be similar to thinking a baseball team’s starting pitching staff can pitch well an entire season.

There are bound to be games when neither a baseball team’s pitching or a football team’s defense is playing up to its capabilities. There will be lapses in both through the course of the season.

One thing that might help the defense is more offense supplied by wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. He has been cleared for contact and will be a game time decision as far as playing. He missed the first three regular season games recuperating from surgery for a torn rotator cuff.

Carson Wentz returned as starting quarterback on Sunday and was crisp enough to make you think he never left. He went 25-for-37 for 255 yards and threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert. The return of Jeffery will give Wentz another target to throw to and a weapon the Titans will have to be aware of.

Running back Jay Ajayi missed the Indianapolis game with a bone fracture in his back but should also see playing time. If all three can play in the lineup together – Jeffery, Wentz and Ajayi – it will be the first time since last December when the Eagles defeated the L.A. Rams.

Looking ahead, the Eagles return home next Sunday to host Minnesota. The Vikings (1-2-1) lost to the L.A. Rams on Thursday night football, 38-31. They’ll have nine days of rest to recover from the assorted injuries that occur in any NFL game and also have their pride restored. Quarterback Jared Goff lit up the Vikes with a five-touchdown performance. He solidified his qualifications as an MVP candidate along with Wentz.

With Goff at quarterback, the Rams are the NFC’s last unbeaten team at 4-0. Miami (3-0)  puts its unbeaten record on the line when it visits New England Sunday, 1 p.m. The other unbeaten AFC team is Kansas City. The Chiefs (3-0) visit Denver on Monday Night Football, 8:15 p.m.

The Eagles play the Rams but not until December 16. By then, hopefully, the Eagles could have the East Division clinched and the game would have no importance for them. But that is a long way off. The Eagle have to be concerned with the next game on their schedule and not with one more than two months down the road.