The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot of talent on paper. Saquon Barkley. A top-tier offensive line. One of the best cornerback duos in the league. But if you’re banking on them to make it back to the Super Bowl in 2026, the math is pretty simple: the defense has to be dominant. Not just good. Dominant.
Last season, the Eagles ranked 24th in total yards per game on offense and 19th in points per game, averaging 22.3. That’s not exactly championship material. And expecting a big jump feels like wishful thinking. Barkley rushed for almost 900 fewer yards in 2025 than he did the year before. The guy isn’t going to suddenly turn back the clock and chase 2,000 yards again. The offensive line can only do so much.
What the Front Seven Looks Like
Up front, the Eagles have the horses. Jalen Carter is the kind of player opposing offensive coordinators have nightmares about. One veteran NFL coach told ESPN he has Hall of Fame ability and instincts. Carter finished second in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023 and has made two Pro Bowls since. He only had 4.5 sacks last year, but as Jeremy Fowler put it, he’s the classic need-to-see-him-in-person player. Disruptive as they come.
Jordan Davis is right there beside him. He totaled 72 tackles, nine for loss, six quarterback hits, and 4.5 sacks in 2025. That’s a potentially devastating one-two punch in the middle. Moro Ojomo chipped in six sacks and 12 quarterback hits last season too.
The edge rusher spots had some question marks, but adding Jonathan Greenard on a $98 million contract looks like a big deal. His pressure rate hit a career-high 18.1% last season, and over the last two years his 16.7% pressure rate ranks seventh in the NFL among players with at least 500 pass-rushing snaps. That’s not just a stat sheet filler. That’s getting to the quarterback and wrecking his timing.
The Back End and the Mastermind
Zack Baun graded out at 80.9 from Pro Football Focus at middle linebacker, good for No. 6 in the league. Jihaad Campbell wasn’t far behind at 76.2, ranking No. 14.
And then there’s the secondary, which might be the team’s biggest strength. Quinyon Mitchell is already ranked No. 6 among NFL corners with an upward trajectory. Cooper DeJean checks in at No. 10. Mitchell has 29 pass deflections in two seasons and first-team All-Pro honors. The Eagles also added Tariq Woolen, a 6’4″ cornerback that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio loves. Fangio said Woolen moves in and out of breaks well for his size and has good downfield speed. His length is an asset.
Speaking of Fangio, he might be the No. 1 defensive mind in the game right now. Since he took over as defensive coordinator, the Eagles have been an elite unit. They held the Chiefs to basically nothing in Super Bowl LIX. Over the last two seasons, they’ve allowed the lowest passer rating (79.0), lowest yards per attempt (6.2), fewest passing touchdowns (36), and lowest completion rate (59.5%) in the NFL. They’re second in yards allowed per game (296.3) and points allowed (18.5).
The Offensive Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About
It’s not that the Eagles offense is bad. Jalen Hurts is solid and takes care of the football. But without AJ Brown, the whole dynamic shifts. DeVonta Smith moves into the WR1 role, and he’s good. But there’s a big difference between what he did with Brown drawing double coverage and what he’ll have to do without him. Rookie Makai Lemon at WR2? Defensive coordinators are going to load up on Smith. Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown aren’t scaring anyone on an every-down basis.
Dallas Goedert might get 100 targets, but that alone won’t fix things. And here’s the thing about Hurts: without Brown to beat tough coverage, he might be forced to throw into tighter windows. He’s far more likely to approach the 15 interceptions he threw in 2023 than the five he had in 2024 or the six last year.
This offense isn’t going to light up the scoreboard. But the defense? It might be the NFL’s best. That’s the only way the Eagles are getting back to the Super Bowl. The defense has to carry them.
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