Let’s be real, I’m unsure how much we can really learn from this Philadelphia Eagles performance because the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense is a bit of a joke. But still, shutting out anyone is always impressive in the NFL. The Raiders were overmatched and overwhelmed from the opening snap, but that doesn’t take away from how ruthless the Eagles’ defense was. A shutout in the NFL is rare regardless of opponent, and holding a team to 75 total yards is something you almost never see. The Eagles’ defense removed
any sense that this was a competitive football game.
Defense
Many offenses would love to scheme a run that isolates a running back one-on-one against a corner, especially when that corner is aligned outside the box. The problem for the Raiders is that corner is Cooper DeJean. DeJean consistently erases run plays that should be explosive simply through angles, processing, and his incredible tackling technique. DeJean has been an unbeliever tackler this year, whether he’s in the nickel or outside. He’s just a very, very good football player.
Moro Ojomo blowing through the right guard and sacking Kenny Pickett summed up the night for the Raiders. The Eagles had no need for blitzes as the Raiders’ offensive line just couldn’t handle the Eagles’ pass rush. Even without Jalen Carter, the Eagles were consistently collapsing the pocket from inside, which is the most demoralising type of pressure for an offense. I couldn’t help but wonder what a fully healthy Jalen Carter might have done to this offense…
Jaylx Hunt’s athleticism pops immediately here, and it did throughout the game. He’s fluid, balanced, and accelerates through gaps without any wasted movement. These stunts worked because the Raiders’ offensive line couldn’t communicate or recover. They were bad individually and bad structurally. I called this in my preview. When stunts are winning this cleanly, it usually means the defensive line is executing well, and the offensive line can’t communicate effectively.
Jordan Davis’ rep here feels emblematic of his season. He dominates the guard, keeps his outside arm free, maintains leverage, and finishes the play with ease. What stands out is how routine this looks for him now. At this point, Davis isn’t just a space-eater. He’s making plays every week, too. Long-term readers know I’ve been a bit of a skeptic of Jordan Davis because his conditioning has always worried me, but prioritising him long-term feels increasingly justified given how stable he’s been all year. He’s been excellent.
The Brandon Graham sack is an excellent reminder of how coverage and rush are completely married in this defense. The rotation to single-high is clean, the communication on the back end is excellent, and Zack Baun’s coverage rep on a wide receiver is outstanding. This is a really tough rep for almost any other off-ball linebacker. This is exactly how Vic Fangio wants his defense to function. How cool was it to see Brandon Graham add another couple of sacks to his career total? Nobody deserves it more!
I pointed this out last week, too, but Adoree’ Jackson’s coverage here is another example of the player starting to settle into the system. Earlier in the year, he was opening his hips too early and getting beaten on comebacks and stop routes because he didn’t trust his deep speed. On this rep, he stays patient, trusts his leverage, and plays the ball cleanly at the catch point. That confidence shows up week after week now, and it’s why he’s clearly locked down the CB2 role. The Eagles’ secondary has stabilised the past couple of weeks, and Jackson’s play, combined with the introduction of Marcus Epps, has played a role in that.
Phew, Zack Baun’s interception is outstanding linebacker play. The Eagles end up in a box coverage look, with Reed Blankenship rotating over as an extra defender, but what stands out is Baun’s feel for the route. He barely needs to look at the receiver; he understands the spacing, keeps his eyes on the quarterback, and attacks the ball at the right moment. This is only possible because Quinyon Mitchell is trusted completely on the outside, allowing the defense to allocate resources elsewhere. Baun has such a good feel in coverage, and he’s the perfect fit for this defense. It’s been a joy to watch him the past couple of years.
This is hilarious. The Raiders attempt to chip Nolan Smith, but the execution is so poor that it actually gives Smith leverage against the tackle. Smith’s speed and balance do the rest. Best sack of the season?
Nakobe Dean’s performance in coverage was noticeably better in this game, with the important caveat that it was against the Raiders! When he trusts his eyes, he is so good. When Dean plays decisively, his speed and physicality are genuinely frightening. The inconsistency remains the issue, but this was a step in the right direction. There can’t be many linebackers who are faster over 5-10 yards. His acceleration is explosive.
There’s almost nothing left to say about Quinyon Mitchell that hasn’t already been said. He has reached the point where offenses do not test him. He’s that good. When the Raiders finally tried on third and long, Mitchell shut it down with ease. He looks annoyed that Pickett even tested him. Leaving him on an island isn’t a gamble anymore. It’s a core principle of this defense, and it unlocks so much else by enabling them to flood the other side of the field and support Adoree Jackson.
Final Thoughts
This was a complete defensive demolition. Yes, the Raiders suck, but great defenses don’t play down to bad teams. They crush them.
Long live Vic Fangio. If this unit continues to execute at this level, with this discipline and cohesion, the Eagles are still in this thing.
Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon here!
