There Is No Fixing The Eagles Defense This Season
This has been one of the worst defenses we have seen from the Eagles in recent history. And the last game was a new low for them. The Cardinals came in as one of the worst offenses in the NFL. But the Eagles couldn’t even force a single punt. They held them to field goals a couple of times and got one Pick 6 on a play where there was a clear miscommunication between Kyler Murray and his WR. But otherwise, the Cardinals had their way against them. And that has become a trend.
The 49ers moved the ball at will against them. So did the Cowboys. And while they held the Seahawks down for most of the game, when it really matter they let them quickly go down the field to score the game-winning TD.
Their pass defense was a mess all season long. But early in the season you could have at least said they were an elite run defense. They were the top run defense through 9 weeks, but since then have completely fallen off the cliff.
This is what Tim McManus said about the Eagles defense when he joined ‘The Best Show Ever?’ earlier this week:
“I would love to spin something optimistic here… But it is tough for me to sell that. Especially after viewing what I viewed against Arizona. They got gashed for 200+ rushing yards against what was at the time a 3-win football team. Now the strength of your defense, which was the run defense, has become a vulnerability. And you have all of these other vulnerabilities. Call it what it is, its a mess.”
What has the difference been? Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter both seem to have hit a wall. Jordan Davis was ranked among the top run-stoppers in the league going into that Bills game. But then he and Jalen Carter both played 60+ snaps in a single game. And since then, neither of them have been much of a factor. Go rewatch that Cardinals game, and you will see Jordan Davis getting beat often by a single blocker. Then watch him earlier in the season and you will see a guy eating up multiple blocks, yet still winning on most snaps.
So can the issue be fixed? Well if the issue is Davis and Carter have hit a wall, it’s hard to see them suddenly finding another gear. Both are incredibly promising players, but players don’t get less tired as the season goes on. And the rest of the defense just does not have the firepower to make up for them falling off.
Getting Slay and Zach Cunningham back will help. And maybe Avonte Maddox shakes off the rust. But even with those changes, this defense just lacks the talent to play at a playoff level. You can’t bounce off tackles and leave receivers wide open past the sticks, and play at a high level. And if the Eagles are going to have any success in the playoffs, it feels like it will all have to go through their offense.
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