Rushing To Rule: The Eagles Addition That Continues To Dominate The NFL!
The Eagles are rolling.
After two dominant wins, they enter Week 15 with a 12-1 record. They discarded the playoff-contending Tennessee Titans and New York Giants, beating both by more than 25 points.
While the offense continues to shine brightly, the Eagles’ defense has been somewhat overlooked. As a result, it has sometimes been gouged on the ground, especially in the absence of the space-eating rookie Jordan Davis in the middle.
Although not infallible, the defense has been dominant. The Eagles pace the league with 49 sacks through just 13 games, consistently disrupting drives and causing chaos for opposing quarterbacks. Their intimidation continues through the air, where they have allowed just 2,323 yards passing, another league-best mark. They are also first in the NFL in interceptions with 15 and have forced 11 fumbles on the season thus far, recovering nine.
The Eagles are fantastic at taking the ball away. They lead the NFL with 24 total turnovers and have surrendered just ten themselves. In contrast, their run defense has been inconsistent and requires additional resources. As a result, they rank 18th in rushing yards allowed and bottom ten in yards per carry.
One thing that cannot be quibbled with is this pass rush.
The Eagles Pass Rush – And Their Dominance
Philadelphia’s trenches are certainly intimidating.
The Eagles have a myriad of ways in which they can apply pressure and finish in the lap of opposing quarterbacks. Through 13 games, the Eagles have five players with six or more sacks. They can pin their ears back and hurtle off the edges, with ends Josh Sweat (7.5), Haason Reddick (10), and Brandon Graham (8.5) all able to win consistently around on the outside. Additionally, interior rushers Javon Hargrave (8.0) and Fletcher Cox (6.0) can push the pocket right into the opposing quarterback’s lap. They genuinely are almost impossible to stop. One of the takeaways from the entire season is the ability of the Eagles’ front to get to the quarterback without blitzing, a valuable skill.
Philadelphia defenders live in the backfield at times. They have 69 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, coming from 16 different contributors. While their run defense lacks the stout consistency that Eagles fans are clamoring for, they have seen improvement in recent weeks.
However, one of their pass rushers is beginning to shine just a little brighter.
Haason Reddick – All-Pro Bid Once Again
Haason Reddick has delivered once again.
The Eagles signed the six-year pro in the 2022 NFL Offseason to supplement an aging defensive line rotation. Reddick broke out early, having an incredible three-game stretch from Week 3 to 5. The first-year Eagle had 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two tackles for loss in this period, and 15 total quarterback pressures. It became clear that his presence was galvanizing Jonathan Gannon’s defensive front.
After logging his tenth sack of the season in Week 14, Reddick acquired a unique and impressive historical achievement. The former Carolina Panther became the first player in the history of the NFL to record ten or more sacks with three different teams in three seasons. He is the first player to accomplish this since the statistic has been tracked. His ability to produce in multiple schemes is incredible.
There is no doubt that Reddick is having a Pro-Bowl caliber season this year. He has racked up 49 quarterback pressures, 19 stops, and ten sacks. Moreover, he has not lost his knack for jarring the ball loose, following up a combined eight forced fumbles in 2020 and 2021 with three so far this year.
The Future Is Bright For Reddick
Reddick still has time to expand on his terrific season.
The Eagles’ edge rusher has arguably had his two best performances as a pass-rusher in Week 13 and 14. He has combined for 17 pressures in these matchups, two sacks, and a tackle for loss. He consistently puts pressure on the quarterback and gives opposing offensive tackles nightmares.
The Eagles’ edge rusher has already exceeded all but one of his season marks in total quarterback pressures. Also, he has the best PFF pass-rushing grade of his career thus far, with a grade of 84.3. Even more exciting, his skillset is a perfect fit with the deep rotation of the Philadelphia defensive line.
The last three years have solidified Reddick’s acumen as a premier defender in the NFL. He has had gaudy numbers, flashed game-wrecking speed off the edge, and developed into a consistent problem for opposing offenses. He has tallied a ridiculous 33.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, and six passes defended in his past three seasons.
Reddick has firmly arrived. Howie Roseman should be significantly credited for his foresight in reinforcing the defensive front and adding such an impactful piece.
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