By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles are 13-1 but if you haven’t watched a game or just listened to the outside media and friends, many would have you believe that’s all due to the success of Jalen Hurts and the offense. But not so fast. The Eagles’ defense has been carrying this team all season and the numbers will back this up. Remember early on when all the fuss about how great the defense of the Dallas Cowboys was? Well, if you look now, the Eagles have passed them in most categories.
Early on, what was the reason for the Cowboys getting much national attention? That was in large part due to their ability to get after the QB. However, the Eagles’ defense is now leading the NFL in sacks with 56 heading into Week 17. But where is that praise for this defense the same way everyone was praising the Cowboys?
The new “Doomsday Defense” is what they were being labeled and while fans and analysts were gushing over their numbers, Jonathan Gannon was steadily building his own dominant unit.
As far as the eye test goes that people tend to mention, can you count the number of times Darius Slay or James Bradburry are mentioned during an Eagles’ game? What that means is that it’s hard for them to make plays when QBs won’t throw their way.
As it stands now, the Philadelphia Eagles are ranked 5th in Completion Passier Percentage (61.3), 1st in Yards Attempt (5.3), 1st in Passing Yards Allowed (2414), 12th in TDs Allowed (18), 1st in INTs (18), and 1st in Sacks (56), and that’s just the pay of the secondary.
The Philadelphia Eagles Are A Force On Defense
Digging further, the Philadelphia Eagles’ front seven are 18th in Rushing Yards Allowed (1695) and 25th in Yards Per Carry. There’s no secret that their run defense has an issue for this team. However, they have begun to improve. Since their loss to the Washington Commanders, the Eagles have faced Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, AJ Dillion, Aaron Jones, and Justin fields, and not one of those players has gained 100 yards against the Eagles.
But still, for most, it’s all about the eye test and the Cowboys and Bills have been placed in this box where no one else can fit. For the Eagles, that’s cool. All they have done is dominate and still managed to correct the issues they had early on as far as containing an opponent’s ground game.
Offense sells tickets but defense wins champions has been the saying in NFL circles for decades. If so, name another team that ranks in the top 5 in Offensive Yards and Defensive Yards Allowed? The Philadelphia Eagles are a complete team. The issue is, no one is willing to give the defense their respect.