Ndamukong Suh significantly increases Eagles chances to win the NFC

Those of you that wanted to see some punch from the Philadelphia Eagles‘ defense following an embarrassing Week 10 loss in primetime, will, no doubt, get your wish now. One day after adding what might have been the second-best option on the free-agent market at the defensive tackle position in six-foot-four, 329-pound Linval Joseph, vice president/general manager Howie Roseman did his team an even larger favor on Thursday. He raised the stakes by adding the best defensive tackle that was available, five-time Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh.

Overreaction happens in the NFL. We all get that. A single loss on the ledger shifted conversations about the Eagles from whether or not they’d go undefeated to whether or not they’d lose their next three games. With that being said, it would be easy to drift back into the realm of overconfidence after watching their G.M. take two huge swings in the span of about 26 hours.

No one knows if the Eagles will hoist the second Vince Lombardi Trophy in franchise history come February. There’s a lot of football to be played, but adding a potential Hall of Famer to what this team already had significantly improves their chances.

Suh will reinvigorate discussions about Philadelphia being the favorites to win the NFC. That can’t be denied. He may even increase the frequency of those discussions. Here’s why you should listen.

Here are five reasons why the Eagles could represent the NFC in the next Super Bowl following Ndamukong Suh’s addition.

With the trade deadline long gone, Howie’s efforts to improve his team after watching them lose could add more passengers to his ever-growing bandwagon. You have to appreciate the effort. Eagles Twitter most certainly does.

If your confidence was shaken following the debacle versus the Washington Commanders, no one would blame you. Here are five reasons to pick your chin up.

The Eagles’ run defense will, most certainly, improve now.

Interior defensive linemen can be tough to evaluate. Some are better run defenders. Others are better at creating pressure in pass-rushing situations. With Suh, you get someone that can do both, and playing on a unit that already houses Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, and Milton Williams, the Eagles’ defensive tackle rotation is officially the NFL’s best.

None of those guys are what they once were with the exception of Williams (he’s still young), but after adding Suh and Linval Joseph, there may not be an offensive line that won’t wilt under the constant onslaught. It’s a lot to take over the span of four quarters. Trust us on that.

Running backs aren’t going to want to attack the middle of the Eagles’ defensive line.

There’s a reason why NFL teams no longer value the running back position like they once did. It’s the most punishing position in all of football.

They’ll never admit to this, but there isn’t a tailback walking that relishes the idea of carrying the ball into the teeth of an opposing defense with the frequency that Washington toted the rock in Week 10.

Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry are otherworldly talents. They’ve also battled injury, and the grind that comes with the beating they’ll potentially take won’t just wear on them physically. It’s a mental beatdown as well, especially for Taylor whose team isn’t going anywhere.

Ndamukong Suh’s presence will create opportunities for everyone on the edge.

The business model in Philadelphia has long been known. Build from the inside out. Suh’s presence doesn’t just create opportunities for the other defensive tackles, it creates opportunities for the guys on the edge as well.

Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, Haason Reddick, and Robert Quinn are very happy about this move. We may see even an extra sack per contest.

Goedert, Davis, and Maddox will return to a better team than the one they last played with.

Though losing Dallas Goedert, Avonte Maddox, and Jordan Davis were all significant moments in the season, they’ll all be back at some point. By the looks of things, they’ll return to a better team than the one they left. Keep in mind the fact that the one they remember was pretty good.

As well as the Eagles have played at times, they can still improve. They most certainly haven’t hit their stride yet, but when and if they do, watch out.

The Eagles’ defense is in need of a jolt, and Ndamukong Suh brings that in abundance.

Swagger won’t win games, but it is representative of the confidence needed to do so in an ultra-competitive National Football League. Philly lost some of its swagger while losing to the Washington Commanders. Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph will give the Eagles’ defense a shot in the arm from that perspective.

Philadelphia has proven itself to be a Super Bowl contender so far this season. It would be ridiculous to think that a single loss has changed that.

Sure, it may also be ridiculous to believe that adding two aging tackles to the roster makes them the NFC East’s best team, but chew on this for a few seconds. Adding Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh certainly doesn’t make them worse.