Is the Eagles' spotty defense finally turning a corner?
Rarely have the Philadelphia Eagles struggled to score points this season. Their main issue has been in keeping opponents off the board.
Ahead of Monday night's Super Bowl rematch at Kansas City, the Eagles ranked 17th in the NFL with 21.6 points allowed per game. Despite beating Washington twice, Philadelphia's defense was lit up by quarterback Sam Howell for 31 points in each game. The Eagles also allowed 20 points in a Week 1 win at New England - the Patriots' second-highest point total in a game this year - and 20 points in a Week 6 loss to Zach Wilson and the woeful New York Jets, one of only four times this season the Jets have reached 20 points.
On Monday night, however, Philadelphia's D had its finest hour. The Eagles pitched a second-half shutout - the first time the Chiefs were shut out in the second half of a home game since 2021 - and claimed revenge for last February's loss with a 21-17 win.
After the game, there was plenty of praise to go around for first-year defensive coordinator Sean Desai.
Even though the Eagles are 9-1 after pulling off one of the biggest regular-season wins in franchise history, things don't get much easier going forward. Philadelphia's next three games are against Buffalo, San Francisco and Dallas. These three teams are currently a respective seventh, third and second in points scored. In Week 9, despite a 28-23 win, the Eagles were carved up by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Prescott threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns while Lamb caught 11 passes for 191 yards.
Still, Philadelphia is currently a game ahead of Detroit and two games ahead of San Francisco and Dallas for the best record in the NFC. The Eagles don't play the Lions this year, but two more wins over the 49ers and Cowboys would all but guarantee home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs. Philadelphia also had the number-one seed in last year's postseason and reaped the rewards by outscoring the Giants and 49ers 69-14 in two playoff games. If the road to the Super Bowl has to go through Lincoln Financial Field again, it'll be a daunting task for the rest of the NFC.
The best way for the Eagles to gain the top seed again is for Desai's defense to build on its momentum from Monday night. If the D can continue its upward trajectory, Philadelphia will have an inside track to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII.
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