Philadelphia Eagles Defense is Their Best Weapon

There is no doubt that the Philadelphia Eagles’ 24-17 win over the New York Jets proved that the team was not out of the running. Granted, it was not the cleanest or best looking win that the team has had. QB Sam Bradford made more completions and had successful plays. Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles both had chances to show glimpses of what the run game could be like once the offense gets into a good rhythm. There was one real star of the game and it’s most likely going to be the strongest tool in the Eagles toolbox.

Bring on the Philadelphia Eagles defense.

The team’s defense is definitely something to be watched over the course of the season. It was hard to tell in the first half of the Falcons game if the Eagles would be able to pull together and work cohesively as a unit. It’s safe to say that since then things have completely turned around.

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During their last three games, the Eagles run defense has held opponents to only 3.1 yards per carry. The team was without Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks against the Jets but that didn’t seem to slow their defense down. They held the Jets to only 34 yards on 12 carries. In the past 84 attempts by their opponents, the Eagles have held them to just 11 carries of seven yards or more. The team’s defense is on the rise and there are significant signs that there is going to be more improvement as the season progresses.

That progress might just come from the team’s newest rookies.

Inside linebacker Jordan Hicks and defensive back Eric Rowe are beginning to show their talent and promise. Hicks entered the game against the Cowboys after injuries to both Alonso and Kendricks. He had a good performance, causing a forced fumble, a sack and seven tackles. He has his first start against the Jets and also had another stand-out performance, having a pass breakup, an interception and 10 tackles. He also caused Tony Romo to miss half the season, which overall isn’t bad for a rookie.

Eric Rowe is also on a path to contributing to the formidable force is that the Eagles defense. He had a big interception off of Jets QB Ryan Fitzgerald’s pass intended for rookie wide receiver Devin Smith. Rowe had been bouncing around and playing different positions but that will make him a good asset for Chip Kelly. It’ll be hard to say how much playing time Rowe will get in the upcoming weeks but with his performance against the Jets, it’s safe to say he’ll be an impact player in the future.

The key to the Eagles defense is staying as consistent as possible. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis is in charge of creating a powerful defense and that takes time. He’s working with a team of both veterans and rookies that need to work together to create ‘their’ defense. The Eagles have a strong safety duo in Walter Thurmond and Malcolm Jenkins. The team does well against the pass rush as well but there is still more work to be done. What ultimately will prove just how well the Eagles defense is will be how well they work cohesively as the season progresses. If all the pieces fall into place, the Eagles defense will be a scary force to face.

Next: Eagles Fantasy Football Preview: Week 4

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