For anyone tuning in to Week 1's grueling 24-22 Philadelphia Eagles win over the visiting Washington Commanders, the Eagles made plenty of big defensive plays.
And smack in the middle of the action - both literally and figuratively - were the hard-hitting duo of inside linebackers Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell.
The pair was omnipresent in the afternoon, snuffing out countless plays and hammering Commanders left and right.
The Eagles got stellar performances from Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell
Baun led all defenders in this NFC East clash with 12 tackles, also providing two deflected passes and a tackle for loss. That tackle for loss came in the second quarter, when a Daniels screen pass was promptly eradicated by the Bald Eagle, who flew in to punish Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a seven-yard loss.
Baun nearly had an interception as well, breaking up a pass intended for Stefon Diggs, before delivering his most crucial coverage sequence at the tail end of regulation, tipping a Daniels pass destined for tight end John Bates in the end zone.
The Commanders kept testing him, and Baun kept denying the visitors. Per Next Gen Stats, Baun was targeted six times in coverage and surrendered just three receptions for -2 yards, making him only the second player (Denzel Ward) since the start of last season to allow negative yards on five or more targets.
Overall, it was a herculean effort in the middle for Baun, while his counterpart on the inside also rose to the occasion.
Making his first-ever Week 1 start, Campbell came out blasting. Brandishing the range and athletic prowess that prompted Howie Roseman to land him in the first round last year, Campbell joined Baun in making his presence felt. Along with nine tackles, he also tallied the first sack of the season for Philadelphia's defense, bringing down Daniels in early fourth quarter action, while adding two other pressures on the afternoon.
There were a few lapses in coverage that Campbell needs to clean up, but overall, the performance put forth by the former 'Bama star was stout.
As a captain and steadying force on gamedays, Baun has always been a trusted enforcer and leader for this defense. Meanwhile, it was critical to see a strong effort out of Campbell, who, of course, has now inherited the spot previously held by Nakobe Dean. In Week 1 action for Las Vegas, Dean also shined in his Raiders debut, notching six tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss. For now, though, this new duo is holding down the fort on the inside with confidence and awareness that helps fuel the entire defense.
Add Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who is waiting in the wings, and Smael Mondon Jr., who enjoyed a strong summer, and this ILB unit remains loaded.
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Week 1 showed that the pulse of this defense lies inside, and both Baun and Campbell were firing on all cylinders.
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