The Philadelphia Eagles have fended through a tough schedule to begin the 2025 NFL season, and they have a 7-2 record to show for it. It hasn't always been pretty, but one side of the ball or the other has typically stepped up to ensure a victory.
However, the Eagles' defense has been the driving force behind their success this year. The foremost example of that came just days ago on Monday Night Football in Week 10, as Philadelphia pulled out a victory despite scoring just 10 points, as the defense held the Green Bay Packers to a mere 7.
Vic Fangio's crew is currently the 10th-best scoring defense in the entire NFL, as they're allowing just 21.3 points per game against a myriad of lethal offenses. Yardage-wise, they're in the middle of the pack, but this defense has bent more than it has broken during this campaign.
Dan Campbell heaps praise on Vic Fangio ahead of Eagles-Lions clash
Philadelphia has another tough test on the horizon in Week 11, as the Eagles will take on the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media on Wednesday, discussing the defense his team will face in primetime.
"They have a style, and they're very good at it. I wouldn't say there's anything necessarily complex about it, but it's very sound. It's very sound across the board," Campbell said. "Coach Fangio, he's a legend, man. It's stood the test of time, that style of defense, the way they play. The coverage (and) the rush goes hand-in-hand. It's a pain in the ass. It's hard. It's hard to deal with, offensively. I just think it's good, sound football. And they don't beat themselves. ... When they need a critical play, they come up with a critical play. That's what champions do. That's why they've been able to have the success that they've had."
Campbell, obviously, is saying what every Eagles fan already knew to be true about Fangio. Not only is he a legend in Philadelphia already after a season and a half, but he is a feared defensive play-caller around the league, even by high-powered offenses.
Already equipped with great players at every level, the Eagles found a way to get better at the trade deadline by acquiring Jaelan Phillips and Michael Carter II. While the latter only played one snap on Monday, the former was an absolute game wrecker for the Philadelphia defense.
The more tools that Fangio has in his bag, the scarier he and his unit become. Detroit still will be a handful with Jared Goff manning an offense with playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and David Montgomery to keep track of.
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However, the Eagles have the ability to match them, and Campbell is aware of it. Fangio is the highest-paid defensive coordinator in all of football, and he has been worth every penny. Now, it's time for him to prove it yet again in front of a national audience against a Lions team that knows what he's capable of.