Defense Continues To Shine Amidst Eagles’ Five-Game Win Streak, They’ll Have To Be Big vs. Commanders

Just over six weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were 2-2 on the season after a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they headed into their bye week. The team was falling behind in the division, tensions were high, and multiple people were calling for head coach Nick Siriani to be fired or changes to be made.

We flash forward to week 11 of the season, the Eagles are 7-2, winners of five straight, and have a matchup on Thursday Night against the 7-3 Washington Commanders, the biggest and only threat to Philadelphia in the NFC East. This is a huge game for the Eagles who with a win can extend their lead in the NFC East with less than seven weeks to go in the season.

But what has caused the sudden turnaround? The offense has been better, scoring four touchdowns in each of the last four games. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley have both been playing outstanding, and the rest of the offense has been getting healthier. However, a huge reason for the Eagles’ recent success has been the improved play from the defense.

The unit has surprisingly been one of the best in the entire league so far this season. They’ve allowed an average of 16.1 points per game which ranks third in the entire league, 274.1 yards per game which is second in the league, and they’ve allowed only four touchdowns with the full defense on the field over the past five games.

A big group that has been improving over the past number of weeks is the tandem of Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Jordan Davis. The former Georgia Bulldogs of the front seven have combined for six sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 32 total tackles over the past five weeks.

One player who has finally looked like he hit his stride recently is edge-rusher Bryce Huff. Huff is finally playing like the player the Eagles spent $51 million on in the offseason. He’s recorded 2.5 sacks, seven tackles, and forced one fumble in his last five games, added to an already improving defensive front.

At linebacker, Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun have both had outstanding 2024 campaigns. Dean has become a reliable full-time starter for the Eagles after struggling this past couple of seasons with injuries and poor play causing him to see a small number of snaps each game. But 2024 has been the year where Dean could take the next step. He currently sits at 66 tackles on the season which is second on the Eagles, two sacks, and a very clutch game-winning interception back in week nine against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As for Baun, he has been the best offseason signing for the Eagles not named Saquon Barkley, and has been the team’s defensive MVP this season. Throughout every game this year, Baun has been all over the field recording a team-high 87 tackles, forcing three fumbles, recording two sacks, and even grabbing an interception. For a guy who was signed as someone who maybe could get cut if he didn’t look good in training camp, he’s turned into the best defensive player on the field for the Eagles this year.

In the secondary Reed Blankinship has been solid, while Darius Slay and C. J. Gardner-Johnson have both not been great but not the worst players in the world. The real shining spot on the secondary has been the emergence of rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

Mitchell may not have the stats that some corners have, as he hasn’t recorded an interception yet this year. However, Mitchell has locked down some of the best wide receivers this season CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, Malik Nabers, and Amari Cooper to name a few. Mithcell has broken up eight passes this year, the most on the team, and has yet to allow a touchdown pass this year. He is blossoming into one of the best young cornerbacks in the entire league.

As for DeJean, after missing the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury, the rookie corner out of Iowa began to hit his stride after the bye week. That’s when he started returning punts and getting more and more time at a starting corner spot. DeJean has been flying all over the field recently, recording 16 tackles and half a sack in his last five games while averaging 12 punt return yards a game. While still early, the duo is showing signs of what the secondary could look like over the next couple of seasons.

But despite all of the recent success, all of that could be for nothing as the Eagles have yet to take on the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite and MVP candidate Jayden Daniels. Daniels has been outstanding for the Commanders this season putting up 2,147 passing yards, a 9-2 touchdown to interception ratio as well as four rushing touchdowns and 464 yards on the ground. To go along with that Washninton’s backfield of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler has been outstanding adding 787 rushing yards and six touchdowns of their own.

The Eagles have only allowed 100.7 yards per game on the ground this season, which puts them fifth in the NFL. A key battle for Philadelphia this Thursday against Washington will be stopping the run game. The defense will have to show up big time if the Eagles want to pick their third consecutive division win of the season.

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