The Philadelphia Eagles are in the thick of a December slide, dropping their third straight game to fall to 8-5 on the season. The latest loss came at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers, and while Jalen Hurts’ five-turnover performance grabbed the headlines, the story runs deeper than just the quarterback. There’s a lot happening under the hood - particularly on the defensive side of the ball - where some key personnel changes are starting to reshape the Eagles' identity.
Let’s start in the secondary, where Vic Fangio made a notable shift. Marcus Epps got the start at safety over Sydney Brown, a move that sends a pretty clear message: the coaching staff is looking for reliability, and right now, they believe Epps provides more of it.
Epps Steps In, Brown Steps Back
This wasn’t a minor tweak. Just a week earlier, in the Eagles’ Week 13 matchup against the Bears, Brown played nearly every defensive snap - 85 in total, good for 98% of the game.
But the performance didn’t inspire confidence. According to Pro Football Focus, Brown posted a 48.6 overall grade, with subpar marks in both run defense (52.7) and coverage (51.5).
Those numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they do highlight the inconsistency that’s plagued Brown all season.
Enter Marcus Epps, who stepped into the starting lineup against the Chargers and logged 72 defensive snaps (97%). He didn’t stuff the stat sheet - just three total tackles - but his presence was steady.
PFF gave him a 65 overall grade, with a standout 79.9 tackling grade and a 65.4 in coverage. He wasn’t targeted in coverage, but his positioning and awareness helped stabilize the back end.
The Eagles’ defense, as a unit, looked sharp. They held Justin Herbert to just 106 passing yards and sacked him seven times.
That kind of pressure up front makes life easier for any secondary, but the numbers don’t lie - Philly gave up just 275 total yards and held the Chargers to 3.2 yards per play. That’s the kind of defensive performance you can build on, and it’s no surprise the Eagles seem ready to stick with this group moving forward.
Why Epps Makes Sense Right Now
Before this latest start, Epps had primarily been contributing on special teams, playing 47% of those snaps. But he’s no stranger to starting duties.
With 46 career starts - 26 of them in an Eagles uniform - he brings a veteran presence to a defense that’s searching for consistency. He may not be flashy, but he knows where to be, and that matters when you’re trying to stop the bleeding during a losing streak.
Brown, on the other hand, remains a high-variance player. His athleticism and upside are undeniable, but the week-to-week inconsistency is tough to live with - especially in December, when every snap matters.
The Eagles can’t afford to roll the dice in the secondary right now. They need stability, and Epps offers a higher floor, even if the ceiling isn’t quite as high.
What This Means Going Forward
With the Eagles in a three-game skid and the playoff race tightening, Fangio and the coaching staff are clearly leaning toward players who can deliver steady, mistake-free football. That’s not to say Brown is out of the picture long-term - his talent is still intriguing - but for now, the job belongs to Epps.
And based on how the defense performed against a capable Chargers offense, it’s hard to argue with the decision. The Eagles don’t need perfection on defense - they just need competence, communication, and a group that can keep things steady while the offense tries to find its rhythm again.
If Week 14 was any indication, Marcus Epps might be exactly what this defense needs to get back on track.