The Eagles’ defense has been good enough to keep them unbeaten, but the back end still has a point to prove.
Philadelphia is 2-0 and sitting in the driver’s seat in the NFC East. The pass defense has been stingy, giving up just 166 passing yards per game, and the cornerback group looks as good as advertised.
Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Riq Woolen give Vic Fangio a trio with real ceiling. On paper, that’s a secondary that should make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
But the story through two weeks has not been about what the Eagles have locked down. It’s been about what they haven’t finished.
Philadelphia has yet to record an interception this season, and its takeaway total is at the bottom of the league. Against Tennessee, both starting safeties, Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba, were charged with three missed tackles apiece. Epps also got beat on a 28-yard third-down completion and later took a poor angle on Tyjae Spears’ 27-yard run on third-and-22, a play that helped Tennessee grab a late lead.
Fangio didn’t bury him for it. He said Epps “had some plays that he would like to have back” and predicted he would bounce back.
Fangio also said “no” when asked about moving DeJean to safety full-time, while adding “there's a chance” Michael Carter could see more snaps. The Eagles also added Kenny Moore, a veteran with slot and safety flexibility, giving Fangio even more room to mix and match.
That’s the backdrop heading into Monday night at Soldier Field, where the Eagles get a backup-led Bears offense. Chicago is without Caleb Williams, who is out with a hamstring injury.
Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol, but Case Keenum is expected to start. Either way, Philadelphia is facing a quarterback situation that doesn’t exactly scream danger.
The Bears’ offense has already shown two very different faces. It exploded for 59 points in the opener, then fell flat in a rainy 9-3 loss to Minnesota and Brian Flores’ defense.
The Eagles’ secondary, though, has its own questions to answer. Mitchell still does not have a regular-season interception in his career.
DeJean, now working in a hybrid safety-nickel role, has not delivered the splash plays that marked his All-Pro season a year ago. Woolen has shown his range and recovery speed, but he has just one pass breakup through two games.
So Monday night is less about proving the Eagles are elite and more about whether they start looking like it.
Fangio does not need a perfect performance. He needs cleaner tackling in space, sharper communication, no busted coverages, and maybe one tipped ball that turns into a turnover. Against a Bears offense down to a backup plan at quarterback, that should be on the table.
If the Eagles get that, 3-0 will feel like a deserved start. If they don’t, the talk about safeties and takeaways will be waiting for them back home.
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