The following is an excerpt of the Eagles Preview Chapter from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps to help you fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of every team heading into the 2025 NFL season. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
Every group played a part in helping the Eagles to their 14-3 record and ultimate Super Bowl Championship.
The offense felt more buttoned up with an adult in the room (new OC Kellen Moore), Jalen Hurts improved, and the addition of Saquon Barkley certainly was impactful.
But if we’re going to identify what changed most to help the 2024 Eagles, there is no doubt it was the defense.
Yes, the offense ranked top 10 in virtually every important stat, be it play or drive based.
That said, the offense played the NFL’s #1 easiest schedule of defenses last year.
The defense played a tougher schedule (#18 toughest schedule of offenses) and made MASSIVE improvements over 2023’s unit.
Look at the jump under Fangio in 2024.
Points per drive:
- 2023: #30
- 2024: #2
Punts per drive:
- 2023: #26
- 2024: #3
Three and out rate:
- 2023: #29
- 2024: #1
Yards per drive:
- 2023: #30
- 2024: #7
Down Set Conversion rate*:
- 2023: #31
- 2024: #3
*the percentage of first downs that are allowed to be converted into another first down
The early down defense, like most of the rest of Philly’s defense, was elite.
They allowed only 120 points to be scored on early downs, #1 least in the NFL.
They allowed -0.10 EPA per play on early downs (#2), 4.8 yards per play (#2), and a 38% success rate (#3).
Against the pass? Elite:
- #1 in Y/A
- #2 in EPA/dropback
- #2 in success rate
As it relates to pass defense specifically, the Eagles were outstanding.
Against all passes, they ranked:
- #2 in EPA/attempt (-0.09)
- #1 in success rate (38%)
- #1 in Y/A (6.0)
And while Fangio’s zone coverages aim to prevent deep passes, they also were excellent against short, underneath throws, ranking #2 in EPA/attempt (-0.16), #1 in success rate (35%), and #1 in Y/A (4.2) against early down throws within 5 air yards.
Fangio’s defense played the #9 highest rate of zone coverage (73% of pass plays).
Unlike most teams using a lot of two high, the Eagles played the NFL’s lowest rate of Cover 2 and the NFL’s highest rate of Cover 6.
They blended in quarters to increase their total quantity of two high coverages.
And they use the #9 highest rate of Cover 3.
The Fangio defense is constructed to prevent big plays.
As a result, Fangio’s defenses force you to drive efficiently to the red zone, and if you can make it that far, stuff you before you score a touchdown.
Fangio’s red zone defenses are so formidable that when I consulted for a specific team, we strategized play calls to score touchdowns from just OUTSIDE red zone territory by calling several more explosive shots before entering the red zone and then needing to score in the condensed space.
Under Fangio, the Eagles improved from #31 inside the red zone in 2023 to #5 in 2024.
Another massive improvement came in third down defense.
In 2023, the Eagles ranked dead last against third down passes, allowing a whopping 42% first down conversion rate.
They also ranked #32 in success rate, #31 in EPA/play, #29 in Y/A, and #29 in TD:INT ratio.
But under Fangio in 2024, the Eagles ranked #2 in third down conversion rate (30%), #1 in success rate, #3 in EPA/play, #8 in Y/A, and #7 in TD:INT ratio.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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