The Philadelphia Eagles defense was criticized and battered during the first of the NFL season, but over the past four weeks, the Birds have gotten healthy and seemed to have found their rhythm.
With Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby healthy, the Eagles defense is among the best in the NFL over the past three weeks. According to ESPN.com, the Birds meteoric improvements as a defense have landed them on a list of the most improved defensive units.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
2019: -7.2% (6)
2018: 0.0% (15)
Gain: -7.2%It’s a modest improvement, but the Eagles have gone from a 6.7% pass defense DVOA last year (15th) to -0.5% pass defense DVOA this year (12th). They’ve blitzed a bit more than they used to under Jim Schwartz, currently at 27.2% per SportsRadar, as compared to a league-low 16.0% in 2018.
The Birds have improved with the return of Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby to the secondary. Two other additions, Rudy Ford and Pass rusher Genard Avery, have also helped spur on the Eagles’ newfound defensive success.