PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Run to the ball, tackle, hit.
These fundamentals are as basic as they get in football, yet they serve as the bedrock of the Eagles' defensive mantra.
The opponent could be a Super Bowl contender, like the one the Eagles faced in Baltimore in their most recent game, or a bottom-dweller, like the Carolina Panthers, which visit Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday.
It doesn't matter. The play calls and assignments might change, but, according to safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the core mission remains the same: Run to the ball, tackle, hit.
"You just gotta be able to compete and outrun [the opponent], out-hit them, be physical with them," Gardner-Johnson said after the Eagles' statement win, 24-19, over the Ravens.
In keeping Baltimore — the NFL's top-ranked offense in total yards per game — 50 yards below its average, the Eagles did just that, once again demonstrating why their defense is one of the league's elite.
Running back Saquon Barkley's dazzling bursts and quarterback Jalen Hurts' effective game management have been vital to the Eagles' eight-game winning streak, but the defense has been just as much a factor — maybe even more so. That the defense adheres to a trio of traditional, old-school tenets is befitting of the coveted coordinator pushing the group's buttons.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 14, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Vic Fangio is a football lifer. The 66-year-old broke into coaching while he was still enrolled at East Stroudsburg University, landing a gig at his old high school in Lackawanna County. His first shot in the pros came with the USFL's Philadelphia Stars in 1984. Two years later, Fangio was in the NFL and, aside from a one-year stint in college, hasn't left since.
Over the last four decades, Fangio has become as known for his schematic innovations as he has for his personality.
"Vic Fangio is a straight shooter," said Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean. "He's gonna give it to you like it is. I feel like a lot of guys like his bluntness and how he is not going to beat around the bush."
Dean was limited to five games last season due to an injury, but the 2022 third-round pick has thrived this year — Fangio's first in Philadelphia. Dean's progress is a microcosm of the Eagles' overall defensive turnaround. The unit was brutal last year, especially in the final weeks, finishing the season ranked among the worst in the NFL.
This year, with Fangio at the controls, the story is different. The Eagles head into their Week 14 matchup with the Panthers first in the league in total defense (282.8 yards per game), seventh against the run (104.8), and third against the pass (178.0).
Fangio's crew is also fourth in the NFL in fewest points allowed per game (18.2), tied for second in third-down conversion percentage (33.3), and boasts the fifth-best red zone defense percentage (45.9).
Across the board, the marks are sterling, but validation of Fangio's influence goes beyond stats. He has tailored his system to fit the Eagles' personnel, develop young talent, and overcome injuries at key positions. Those ingredients, combined with Fangio's play-calling prowess, have the Eagles believing their defense is capable of sustaining a deep postseason run.
"[Fangio] has a really good feel of how to call the game," head coach Nick Sirianni said. "I'm so happy he is here. We have one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL."
On the Week 13 edition of the "unCovering the Birds" podcast, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane investigates the secrets to Fangio's defensive sauce and polls players about whether they believe the Eagles are capable of mounting a Super Bowl run.
"unCovering the Birds" is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season. Follow on the free Audacy app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you listen to podcasts.
