The Philadelphia Eagles lined up for the Super Bowl LVII as an experienced and cohesive team with one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Eagles were first in the league's pass defense and quarterback sack, sixth with 18.9 points per match and third with 17 takeaways.
For all the offensive highlights that Philadelphia provided during that season, their defense was at the center of their success. Their starters seemed ready for anything, with Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat and Javon Hargrave being at the front. At linebacker, T.J Edwards teemed with Haason Reddick and Kyzir White. James Bradberry and Darius Slay started at cornerback, with Marcus Epps and C.J Gardner-Johnson starting at safety, while Avonte Maddox was at the nickel corner.
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While only two seasons since their impressive 2022 defense lined up in their last Super Bowl competition, the team has changed substantially. Graham is still in their up front rotation and Sweat is still playing an outstanding game as a starter. Gardner-Johnson and Slay are still starting, despite CJGJ leaving for one season and returning to the team as an unrestricted free agent in 2024. However, Bradley sustained an injury during their preseason campaign.
Looking at the team, Eagles now have eight new starters and Graham has played 46% of their defensive snaps in nine matches. Philadelphia has also remade their defense remarkably. Here is a look at their performance in their first nine matches as you hunt for sportsbook bonuses to bet on their games:
- Philadelphia has allowed 274.1 yards per match, ranking second in the NFL
- The Eagles us ranking third in the points allowed in the NFL, permitting only 16.1 per match
- The Eagles have allowed 100.7 yards per match on the ground, ranking fifth in the league
- Philadelphia is third in their passing defense, allowing 173.4 yards per game
- The Eagles are third in the NFL in red zone with 42.31% defensive touchdowns
The Philadelphia Eagles clearly have made a successful defensive transition. Their general manager and executive vice president Howie Roseman used the league draft and free agency to develop a solid defense and his reliance on younger players has become a huge hit.
Besides the defensive front, the Philadelphia Eagles have drafted players that have stepped in and contributed significantly. That includes first-round picks like Jalen Carter, Dan Davis and Nolan Smith, continued impressive play from holdovers like Sweat, Graham and Milton Williams. Their free agent player Bryce Huff has also recorded 2.5 quarterback sacks, four quarterback hits, 13 quarterback pressures and played 39% of the snaps. Additionally, Jalyx Hunt stepped up to help the team defeat Dallas and his talent is growing.
The Eagles also have a new group of players at linebacker from their Super Bowl team. However, Dean was just a rookie on this team and only played 34 defensive snaps in 2022. This season, Dean has advanced his skills in the role and has an impressive presence alongside free agency signee Zack Baun.
