The Eagles will need dominant defense to reach the playoffs. The film says these are their strengths (and shortcomings)

There aren’t many silver linings to take from the Eagles’ three-game losing streak, with the last two games slipping away despite late fourth-quarter leads. The offense continues to struggle, particularly in the second half, and the lack of a running game is part of the Eagles’ inability to close out games effectively.

Like last year, the Eagles continue to ask a lot of their defense, and for the most part — at least since the Monday night debacle against Chicago more than two weeks ago — they have answered the bell. They’re creating more turnovers (three interceptions and two forced fumbles in last two weeks), and have done a much better job of defending the run, especially on early downs.

» READ MORE: Eagles will rotate Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell vs. Panthers; Jalyx Hunt likely out

With Sean Mannion’s offense sputtering in recent weeks, Vic Fangio’s defense seems to be rounding into form. Here’s where the defense has shined through five weeks, and why the Eagles can once again count on the unit being one of the top groups in football:

The underlying metrics through five weeks show a much better run defense on early downs when compared to 2024 and 2025. According to TruMedia, offenses have a 34.2% success rate on first- and second-down runs this year. That number was 41.3% last year through five weeks, and 37.5% in 2024. On early-down runs, the Eagles have 16 tackles for loss; that number was 11 last year, and 13 in 2024 (with one less game).

A big part of the Eagles’ early-down success against the run, specifically against Jacksonville, was Jalen Carter’s activity along the defensive line. Much of the discussion after the game has focused on his pass-rushing prowess after he strip-sacked Trevor Lawrence twice, but Carter disrupting run plays in the backfield helped the defense create negative plays. He also played a big role in their two goal-line stops on Sunday.

On non-scramble runs outside the tackles, the Eagles have allowed eight runs of 10 or more yards, and five came in the first two games according to Next Gen Stats. They’ve allowed just three over the past three games.

Edge rushers and defensive linemen are stringing out runs on the perimeter better, while linebackers and secondary players are flying downhill and taking away cutback lanes.

Overall, the run defense can still improve. It wasn’t perfect against the Rams, allowing 4.2 yards per carry, but against Jacksonville, it allowed 3.8 yards and the lowest net run total of the season (102 yards).

The unit still leads the NFL in the number of light boxes (six or fewer players between the tackles) it plays (65.5%), so conceding yards between the tackles will happen if the defensive front can’t generate negative plays. The run defense will be key, too, as long as the Eagles’ offense continues to struggle in the second half.

An area of concern this season for the Eagles has been the rate at which opponents have been successful on play-action passes. Teams are averaging 76.6 yards against the Eagles, which ranks 26th in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. They are generating pressure on just 33.3% of those throws, tied for 22nd in the NFL.

According to TruMedia, the defense is allowing a 23.3% explosive-play rate on play-action passing, nearly 6 percentage points higher than last year and 9 points higher than 2024 through five weeks.

Many of those big gains have come in the second half of games, notably when the defense is on the field much longer because of the offense’s ineffectiveness. The safeties also seem to be getting caught out of position as they are rotating coverage responsibilities at the snap.

The pass defense, in general, seems to be getting picked on in the intermediate areas of the field. According to Next Gen Stats, on throws that travel 10 to 19 air yards, the Eagles allow the second-most passing yards per game (106.2) and are giving up a league-high 170 yards after the catch on such throws.

The areas between the linebackers and safeties seem to be targeted most often. With young safety Andrew Mukuba on the back end alongside a rotating cast of players (Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Kenny Moore), teams seem to be more willing to test those players rather than cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Cooper DeJean. The linebackers, too, have been challenged more in coverage situations.

The Eagles’ pass rush has not been consistent to start the year, but turned up the pressure in Weeks 4 and 5. The Eagles generated 31 pressures over the last two weeks, efforts that ranked in the league’s top half for those weeks, according to Next Gen Stats. They had a season-low nine pressures against the Titans and 10 against the Bears.

Their 15 pressures against Lawrence on Sunday came from a variety of players, with Arnold Ebiketie leading the way with four. Zack Baun, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo and Carter were tied for second with three apiece.

Baun’s number is particularly interesting, because he was brought on delayed blitzes right before the snap to try to speed up Lawrence’s process as a passer. According to TruMedia, the blitz percentage this year (21.5%) has not been as high through five weeks compared to 2024 (27.6%) and 2025 (24.9%). Blitzes this year have generated a 46.2% pressure rate, compared to last year’s 45.8% rate.

Because the Eagles can’t generate quick pressure with four pass rushers (only six quick pressures this season, tied for 26th), Fangio has gotten creative to assist an area in which the Eagles have struggled the past two seasons.

Ebiketie getting more playing time and generating more pressures is a welcome development, especially with Jalyx Hunt’s injury. Ebiketie pushed the pocket a handful of times in London and it was his most productive game so far this season.

Jonathan Greenard’s addition was expected to help the pass rush improve, but his pectoral and ankle injuries have limited him to two games and just 23.3% of the defensive snaps. Getting Greenard back in the fold will be helpful if Hunt, who leads the team in pressures (16), misses significant time.

Fangio’s unit previously turned the corner in Weeks 5 and 6 over the last two years. Doing so again in 2026 could be critical in this Eagles team’s ability to turn its season around.

Listen to the latest episode

The Eagles are back from London, looking to leave the disappointment of a last-second defeat behind while choosing instead to focus on lessons they can learn from a third straight loss. And you know what? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane actually thinks there were encouraging takeaways from the game, outcome aside. He and Mike Sielski discussed why the Eagles’ sky, despite being gray, isn’t falling just yet, and what the team can build on to if it hopes to reverse its fortunes during a key stretch of the schedule that begins Sunday.  Listen here.

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