There has been plenty that has gone right for the Philadelphia Eagles' defense this season, but there are some faults with the unit.
While the first half of the season was all about the lack of a pass rush, it has become the unit's biggest strength in the second half. Even the pass defense, despite the injuries at safety and inconsistent play from Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo at CB2, has been one of the best in the NFL all year.
The one concern with the defense right now is their inability to stop mobile quarterbacks and contain them from breaking loose. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio knows this could end up being a problem if they can't stop Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota from running in their upcoming Week 16 matchup.
"We have to pass rush as a unit — not as individuals — and (not) open up seams in between our rushers and get through," Fangio said via The Athletic's Zach Berman. "A lot of times (Mariota will) scramble up inside just as much as getting outside. You got to rush as one."
Running quarterback have been a pain for Fangio and the Eagles' defense in 2025
It was a standard issue the Eagles faced last year when they played Jayden Daniels, who started for Washington, but with him out for the season, it is now Mariota twice in the next three weeks. Philly also has to try to top arguably the best running quarterback in the NFL right now, in Buffalo Bills signal caller Josh Allen, in Week 17.
This season, the Eagles have allowed three quarterbacks to rush for over 50 yards on them, including Patrick Mahomes, Jaxson Dart, and Justin Herbert. The tough ones were Herbert and Dart, as both led to losses for the Eagles, and Herbert did his with a broken bone in his hand.
An advantage for the Eagles is that they know Mariota well after he was at one point a backup for the team just a few years ago, so they know his tendencies and what makes him good. Mariota may not be the same quarterback he was when he was the franchise QB for the Tennessee Titans, but he still has the legs to pick up yards.
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The Eagles can't let Mariota beat them on the ground, so it'll be up to the defensive line to keep him in the pocket and the linebackers to have a spy on him. If Philly gets torched on the ground by Mariota, it might be a long day for the Eagles.