Eagles Remain Unbeaten as Jalen Hurts Outwits the Cowboy Pass Rush
The New England Patriots’ defense, arguably, has been the best defensive unit in the NFL since week one. Their key pass rushers, Rob Ninkovich and Stephon Gilmore have created havoc for quarterbacks like Carson Wentz and Jacoby Brissett week in and week out. The defense’s success has made Tom Brady even more lethal in the Red Zone, where he has accumulated 1,000+ yards on the season as a receiver.
The Eagles haven’t been able to put pressure on Brady, as their pass rush ranks 23rd in the league. Their top pass rusher Rob Ninkovich has a paltry 1.5 sacks, 0.5 interceptions, and zero forced fumbles on the season. His 1.8 sacks, 1.0 interceptions, and 0.0 forced fumbles rank 24th in the league. The Eagles’ top pick, Jordan Hicks, has just seven tackles on the season and one sack, so he does not rank in the top five on the team in that category.
The Eagles’ defense is not only ineffective in the Red Zone, but they’ve had major problems in the middle of the field and rushing the passer in recent weeks. Their biggest issues are in the trenches, where they are ranked 6th in the NFL in total pressures and a whopping 19th in sacks. In order to make sure Brady remains a focal point in the Red Zone, they must keep him in the pocket as well as creating pressure in the middle of the field. A pressure defense is key to taking down a good quarterback, but the Eagles have not provided enough pressure to keep Brady off his game.
As a result, the Eagles offense is averaging just 3.5 touchdowns and 3.5 interceptions on their way to a 5-5 record this season. They do, however, own the most successful quarterback they have faced under Chip Kelly – Nick Foles. While they haven’t been a good scoring team under Kelly, they are still the better attacking, and that is something the Eagles are sorely in need of.
The Eagles Have Already Set Their Offense Up Better for Foles
The Eagles’ offense continues to struggle, but the change in offensive philosophy under Chip Kelly is not the reason. Their struggles has been because they have not gotten any better at running