When you have the NFL’s top-rated run defense and you combine with one of the league’s worst pass defense units, you are certain to round out somewhere in the middle. The Eagles play the run better than most teams in football.
The downside of such dominance comes in the form of a pass defense that’s ranked in the bottom half of the NFL. The NFL is an offensive league at this point, but there are some pretty good defenses built to stop the best.
According to Pro Football Focus, the inconsistent Birds defense graded out at No. 16 in the NFL through seven weeks. PFF came to this conclusion using the expected pointed added ratio (EPA — the expected number of points the offense should expect to score on the next scoring play given the down, distance, and field position).
16. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles are an interesting case in the pass rush vs. coverage debate. They possess one of the premier pass-rushing units in the NFL, spear-headed by All-Pro caliber players Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox. Both rank among the top five at their respective positions in total pressures, contributing to a defense that leads the NFL in pressure rate at 44%. Despite that, they fall at just 16th on this list largely due to deficiencies in their secondary that was on full display against Kirk Cousins and Stefon Diggs last week. As a coverage unit, they’re prone to allowing big plays. No team has allowed more 30-yard touchdowns to opposing passing attacks (six) or more 100-yard receivers (six) than the Eagles have this season.
The Patriots and 49ers currently have the top two defenses in the NFL.
