Suddenly Philadelphia Eagles‘ defense is playing at an elite level, changing the narrative, and powering a run to the top of the NFC East division standings.
Perhaps no two additions have made more of a significant impact on the Eagles’ defense and the sudden upward trajectory of Philadelphia’s season than the emergences of rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
Sunday, DeJean logged a pivotal fumble recovery, and has been a driving force behind improved secondary play in recent weeks.
“They’re playing like a cohesive unit right now,” Eagles legendary former defensive end Hugh Douglas tells me. “Having Cooper DeJean in the slot has been absolutely huge for them.
“Watching him, it feels like there isn’t a moment that’s too big for him, and he can tackle.”
DeJean has 19 total tackles, half a sack, has forced one fumble and recovered another through the first nine games of his career, including four starts.
However, DeJean is far from the only defensive player rising to the occasion, as coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit is playing like one of the league’s ascending defenses in recent weeks.
After shellacking the Dallas Cowboys 34-6 on Sunday afternoon, in a game that was never remotely competitive, Philadelphia’s defense pulled off one of the more impressive feats across the NFL this season.
As Pro Football Talk points out, the Eagles are the only defense in the league to hold two opponents before 50 net passing yards, after stifling Coper Rush and Trey Lance (just 49 net passing yards) and earlier this season Daniel Jones and Drew Lock (43).
If Fangio and the Eagles’ defense can continue playing at that high a level, making opponents that one-dimensional, Philadelphia is going to be a difficult out in the NFC.
