One Last Look

The Eagles' Super Bowl defense in a picture

Two weeks after the Super Bowl, the Eagles are still on my mind. I'm sorry! Here is one final post, focusing on the defense. 

The reason the game (and season) resonates with me is defense. Everyone talks about the offense—Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and that fabulous offensive line were indeed amazing. But I believe the reason for the Birds' success this year is defense.

The Eagles' defense went from nearly last in the NFL last year to the best this year. After sputtering to a 2-2 start, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made some changes and the results were immediate (and effective).

I love defense. And the Super Bowl was a clinic in how to play it. The Kansas City Chiefs didn't cross half field until late in the third quarter. Their points were scored in garbage time, when the game was already decided. The Eagles got after them at every level: the defensive line (6 sacks without blitzing, one of which produced a fumble), the linebackers (an interception and general smothering play), and the secondary (a pick-six and big stops). It was amazing to watch (if you are an Eagles fan). And it wasn't new; all season long, the team has played great defense at every level. Watch the NFC Championship and Super Bowl highlights. Amazing. So how did they get there?

How do you build a defense? How do you make the worst unit in football into the best? It was a combination of good drafting, player development, quality free agent pickups, and a willingness to change what isn't working. (Note: starting lineups generally list 12 players, showing 'regular' and 'nickel' formations, so the below numbers reflect that total.)

- Good drafting (and undrafted pickups): this unit had eight starters drafted by the Birds, seven of whom were still on their rookie deals. (One more, Reed Blankenship, was an undrafted free agent.) In the below graphic, only three players were offense . . . the Eagles built this team through good drafting.

- Player development: a handful of defensive players (drafted or otherwise) didn't seem to play that well in the last few years, only to break out this year. That matters and points to good coaching. It is easy to write off players who don't pan out in a year or two, but the Eagles have consistently shown patience in this area.

- Free agent pickups: the Eagles had three on D. Darius Slay was traded to the Eagles years ago, and re-signed with them. He has been a veteran leader in the secondary. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was on the team in 2022, went elsewhere in 2023, then signed back in 2024. He is an example of a player who excels in a specific system; he has been excellent on the Birds both years on the team, while he struggled in his year elsewhere. Finally, linebacker Zack Baun was the find of the year. Relegated to special teams on the Saints, he signed with the Eagles for cheap and ended up an All-Pro (which also points to player development).

- A willingness to change what isn't working. What may be missed in the Eagles' success this year was their two big misses: 1) they signed Bryce Huff to a big contract. He didn't perform and was benched a few games into the year. 2) they signed LB Devin White, who was the expected starter. He didn't work out and was cut a few games into the year. Why does this matter? Good coaches get the best out of their players but also identify the ones that aren't working out. Even though Huff and White had more money (or attention) on them, the coaching staff made changes based on need and not 'flash.' It paid off.

Jalen Hurts was the Super Bowl MVP. And he had an amazing game. But me? I would have given the award to the entire defense. "Defense wins championships" is the common wisdom in the football world. Yet awards show what we really value; the last time a defensive player won the NFL MVP was 1986 (Lawrence Taylor). Since then, over 30 quarterbacks have taken home the award, with the rest being running backs. Super Bowl MVP stats are similar; they are almost always QBs. So the defense can get disrespected, which points to a final reflection: excellence doesn't always get recognized. You can be the best—and be a key part of a championship team—without getting accolades. And that is okay . . . we're not called to collect trophies, but to be faithful in the tasks given to us. 

Go Birds. Thanks for a great season. And thank you, defense. You gave us something to cheer for in an uncertain time. UPDATE: one Eagles fansite just released a 2024 defense highlights video. Check it out!