A Winning Formula

The Eagles offense has gotten a ton of attention this season. We have discussed Kevin Patullo, Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, Saquon Barkley, the offensive line and just about every aspect of the offense possible. What will it take for the offense to get fixed? Can this group turn things around and help the team to have success this postseason?

We just might be focused on the wrong thing.

Think back to last season. The Eagles defense allowed the fewest yards in the league and were second in points allowed. Look at the playoff scores.

PHI 22, GB 10
PHI 28, LAR 22
PHI 55, WAS 23
PHI 40, KC 22

No one scored more than 23 points in a game. And that is an impressive collection of QBs and offenses. The Rams scored 7 of their points at the end of the game. The Chiefs scored all of their points when the game was a blowout.

As good as Barkley, Hurts and the offense were last year, the defense was the real star. And that appears to be the case once again this season.

Eagles defensive rankings since Week 10:

• 1st in opponent completion percentage (51.5%)
• 1st in fourth-down defense (14.3%)
• 2nd in opponent passer rating (67.2)
• 3rd in points allowed per game (14.3)
• 3rd in pressures (90)
• 3rd in quarterback hits (45)
• 3rd in… pic.twitter.com/Pp6eDrBU7a

— John Gonoude (@john_gonoude) December 15, 2025

The defense was erratic early on this season. The unit has come together over time and is playing at a really high level. This isn’t about one player or one part of the unit. The whole defense has improved, and for a variety of reasons.

The pass rush got better when Nolan Smith came off IR, the team traded for Jaelan Phillips and they got Brandon Graham out of retirement. Smith is a tone setter against the run and has 2 sacks in the last three games. Phillips has been regularly disruptive since arriving. BG is playing inside and outside and just had a pair of sacks on Sunday.

Don’t forget about Jalyx Hunt. He’s played the best football of his young career over the past month. Hunt leads the team in TFLs, FFs and QB hits. He is second in sacks. And don’t forget the INT he had against the Bears. Hunt is developing into a good edge rusher.

Nakobe Dean came off IR and proved to be an instant impact player. He’s started seven games this season. He is tied for the team lead in TFLs and FF. Dean is third in sacks. He’s added a physical presence in the middle of the defense. You see that in how he plays the run and also with his blitzing. Dean punishes RBs who try to block him.

.@Eagles @chargers @NakobeDean has a unique skill on these inside blitzes…No one can stop him from getting to the QB…Call 17’s number more often please!!!! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/KQFDtiUHrV

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 9, 2025

Drew Mukuba struggled at times early in the season. He got better as he got experience. Then he was injured in the Dallas game and that really hurt. The coaches gave Sydney Brown a shot to start, but he struggled. They brought Marcus Epps back from IR and he’s started the last two games. Epps has played well. He understands Fangio’s system, which makes life hard on safeties.

Remember when CB2 was a major problem? Adoree Jackson struggled early in the season. He’s gotten better as he’s adjusted to the system. He’s now playing with more confidence. It probably also helps that the pass rush has improved.

Nice play by Adoree Jackson

THIRD DOWN STOP BY THE EAGLES D pic.twitter.com/FQp6KQFnFO

— – (@Eaglesfans9) December 14, 2025

Making this stretch of defense all the more impressive is the fact Jalen Carter has missed the last two games and wasn’t healthy for the Bears game. He is still the best player on the defense. If he gets right and comes back in a week or two, it will make the defense even better.

I’m not saying the defense is as good as last year and will lead the team back to the Super Bowl. They are coming together in a big way and have the potential to help the Eagles on a postseason run. The defense will need help from the offense. One of the keys last year is that the offense sustained drives and kept the defense off the field. The defense faced the fewest plays in the league last year with only 999. This year’s defense has already been on the field for 893 plays and there are three games left.

The offense has shown some flashes in the past two games. If they can just sustain drives and give the defense some rest, it will make a world of difference. The offense doesn’t have to be great. If they can take a big step forward, this team could be dangerous in January. With the way this defense is playing, I think we can finally put to bed any comparisons to 2023. Over the final seven games of that regular season, teams averaged 31 points against the Eagles. Only one team all year has scored more than 26 points against Vic Fangio’s defense. Shockingly, that was the Giants on TNF. Crazy.

I don’t know how this season will turn out. I do know that as long as the Eagles have Fangio and that defense, they have a shot.

Vic Fangio has coached the Eagles’ defense for 35 games, including the playoffs.

Of those 35 games, the defense has held the opponent to one or fewer TDs in 13 games — 37 percent of the games he’s coached.

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) December 15, 2025

That is pretty damned impressive.

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