The Eagles got out of Tennessee with a 24-20 road win in Week 2, but the defense didn’t exactly leave with its chest out.
Vic Fangio’s group flashed in a few big moments, yet it also gave up enough splash plays to keep the game tight far longer than Philadelphia probably wanted. Against a young, unproven Titans group, the expectation was a cleaner, more complete performance. Instead, the Eagles are still searching for sharper play at every level of the defense.
The biggest issue remains up front. The pass rush has not been consistently finishing the job, and while defensive tackle Jalen Carter did record a sack on the interior, the front seven has otherwise been fairly quiet through two games.
On the edge, Nolan Smith finally delivered the unit’s first sack of the season when he brought down quarterback Cam Ward. Even then, the overall production has been more solid than disruptive.
That makes Week 3 in Chicago an important test for Philadelphia’s edge group.
The Eagles head to the Windy City with a chance to move to 3-0, and the matchup sets up well for the pass rush to make a statement against a Bears offense dealing with a few key injuries. That’s where Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt come in. With Jonathan Greenard still sidelined and no return date in sight, the two young edge rushers have carried the load so far.
They’ve been active, too. Through two games, Smith and Hunt each have seven pressures and six hurries.
The effort has been there, but the finish has lagged behind. Smith’s sack against Tennessee came late in the second quarter, and even that play had some chaos to it, with Cam Ward nearly slipping away on a sneak before Smith got there.
Hunt was also in on the tackle. The kind of pressure the Eagles need is already showing up in pieces; now it has to turn into more consistent damage.
Chicago offers that chance. The Bears’ revamped offensive line has already been bitten by injuries, and penalties have only added to the problems in pass protection. Caleb Williams is doubtful because of a hamstring injury, which only increases the opportunity for Philadelphia’s edge rushers to take control.
The Bears still have talent at the skill spots, and their run game can do real damage. But in the passing game, the Eagles need Hunt, Smith, and the rest of the edge group to do more than get near the quarterback. They have to close.
For a defense with this much star power and draft capital, the early returns have been frustrating. The upside is obvious. Now the edge rushers have to start turning it into results.
In Other News...
Eagles Suddenly Face A Tougher Week 3 Question Than Expected
The Eagles went into the week expecting a clearer read on Chicagos quarterback situation, but the Bears now appear likely to be without Caleb Williams because of a hamstring injury. Tyson Bagent has cleared concussion protocol and could return to practice, which at least gives Chicago another option as it sorts through the position for Week 3.
Ben Johnson confirmed Bagents clearance, a positive development for a Bears team still trying to stabilize under center. Case Keenum could still end up starting, so Philadelphia may have to prepare for more than one possibility even as the matchup looks different than it did when the schedule first pointed to Williams. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Week 3 WR Question Fans Did Not Expect
The Eagles entered the week expecting to sort through a familiar set of early-season injury concerns, but the wide receiver picture took an unexpected turn when Hollywood Brown was added late to the injury report with a knee issue and sat out a practice. For a team still trying to settle its passing-game rotation, the timing matters, especially with a game coming up and the depth chart suddenly looking a little thinner than it did a day earlier.
If Brown is unable to go, Elijah Moore could become part of the conversation in a bigger way. The offseason addition has not played in the first two games, but the Eagles may turn to him for specific offensive packages or even special teams work if they need another receiver available, giving him a chance to finally enter the mix at a moment when the team did not seem to be planning for one. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Defense Suddenly Faces A Bigger Bears Problem Than Quarterback
The Bears quarterback picture has been murky all week, and that has kept a little extra attention on Chicagos visit to Philadelphia. Backup Tyson Bagent was back at practice after reportedly clearing concussion protocol, according to head coach Ben Johnson, after sitting out earlier in the week and fueling speculation that Case Keenum might get the nod if Caleb Williams remains sidelined.
For the Eagles, the bigger issue is not simply who lines up under center, but how much the uncertainty changes the shape of the game. The betting line has already moved as Bagents status has swung back and forth, and Philadelphias defense now has to prepare for a matchup that could still tilt depending on whether the Bears are dealing with one backup quarterback, another, or more late-week confusion. [Read more 🡒]