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Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 11/8/24.
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The most surprising thing about Eagles’ hot defensive start - NBCSP
During this four-game winning streak, the defense has been spectacular, allowing just 11 ½ points and 215 yards per game. This is only the third Eagles defense in the last 70 years to allow four or fewer offensive touchdowns and fewer than 900 scrimmage yards in a four-game span. They also did it during the 2017 championship season. The only other Eagles defense with a four-game streak like this over the last 70 years was the legendary 1991 group. Over these last four games, the Eagles have allowed an NFL-low 3.95 yards per play and an NFL-low five plays of 20 yards or more. What’s remarkable about all this is that the Eagles have the youngest defense in the NFL. On Sunday, their oldest starter was 27-year-old Zack Baun, who’s a few months older than Josh Sweat. According to the Stathead database, it was the first time in Eagles history they played a meaningful game without a starter older than 27. “I don’t typically like being the oldest guy,” Baun said with a laugh. “But this time I’ll take it.” The Eagles’ 11 starters in the win over the Jaguars averaged 24.4 years old. The next-oldest starting defenses in Week 9 belonged to the Giants (25.3), Chiefs (25.6), Cards (25.7) and Rams (26.0). Even when 33-year-old Darius Slay is healthy and starts over Isaiah Rodgers, the Eagles are still the NFL’s youngest defense at 25.0.
24 Questions About the 2024 NFL Season, Asked and Answered - The Ringer
15. Does the Vic Fangio defense still have it? The Fangio coaching tree isn’t looking as lush as it did three years ago, but the man at the root of it is still getting it done. In just one year, Fangio has completely turned around an Eagles defense that ranked 30th in defensive success rate last season. Let’s just ignore the fact that Fangio was replacing one of his former assistants in Sean Desai and instead focus on how the Eagles now rank 10th in the same stat. Fangio has Philadelphia playing more man coverage than it did a season ago, which is a shift for the veteran coordinator. Throughout his career he’s generally preferred a zone-heavy approach, but in Darius Slay and rookie Quinyon Mitchell, he has the dudes to play tighter coverage, and he’s taking advantage. That’s a positive sign for Fangio, who was criticized by Jalen Ramsey for not properly using the skilled Dolphins secondary he had in 2023. He’s still adapting. It may not be enough to earn him another head coaching job, or to rehabilitate the image of his entire tree, but he’s got the Eagles back in the playoff hunt.
Eagles-Cowboys Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the Week 10 enemy - BGN
5 - Who wins this game and why? With the Eagles currently listed as 7-point road...
