<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1G0ghJ_0w64vSQ600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1G0ghJ_0w64vSQ600" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith was one of many defensive players who made a big play in win vs. Browns. AP</figcaption></figure>PHILADELPHIA — During the first four weeks of the season, the <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/if-eagles-run-defense-doesnt-improve-the-team-could-implode-this-s-has-to-be-fixed-right-now.html">Eagles’ defense</a> didn’t show much promise. The defensive line didn’t generate enough pressure, a lot of players missed tackles and the secondary allowed too many easy catches. Opposing teams averaged 365.8 yards and scored 24 points per game against them.<a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/eagles-late-collapse-just-the-culmination-of-a-game-filled-with-bad-mistakes-and-decisions.html">The Eagles lost to the Falcons in Week 2</a> and <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/10/eagles-game-review-all-three-phases-entire-coaching-staff-failed-in-lopsided-loss-to-bucs.html">to the Buccaneers in Week 4</a> because they struggled to make defensive stops. When the Eagles returned from the bye week on Monday, the defensive players believed their issues could get fixed. They worked hard at practice to find solutions for their problems.BUY EAGLES TICKETS: <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-tickets%2Fperformer%2F761%2F">STUBHUB</a>, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vividseats.com%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-tickets--sports-nfl-football%2Fperformer%2F669">VIVID SEATS</a>, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-tickets%2Fartist%2F805999">TICKETMASTER</a><a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/10/eagles-return-from-bye-week-with-unimpressive-win-over-struggling-browns.html">In the Eagles’ 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday</a>, most of their problems disappeared. They finished with five sacks, only gave up 144 passing yards and improved their tackling. The Browns did not score an offensive touchdown.“The bye week was a restart,” Eagles defensive tackle <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/02/was-eagles-defensive-tackle-robbed-of-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-award.html">Jalen Carter</a> told reporters after the game. “We had a lot going on, a lot in the media, a lot of fans talking. We just had to clear our heads and just focus on the next week when the time comes.”Carter noticed during the week that his teammates were more confident. He said the way his teammates acted in the locker room and prepared for a game was notably different.Throughout the week, Eagles cornerback <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/05/eagles-isaiah-rodgers-learned-this-harsh-lesson-during-suspension.html">Isaiah Rodgers</a> said the defensive players talked about how they needed to find their identity.“Hell yeah. I think we (found our identity),” Rodgers said. “When we go out there, we want the other team when they leave the game to say, ‘Those guys are physical. Those guys run to the ball. Those guys play hard.’”Cleveland drove to the Eagles 8 with under five minutes remaining, trailing 20-13. The Browns were stifled by the Eagles three times and settled for a field goal to make it a four-point game (20-16). They never got the ball back.The last time Philadelphia’s defense was put in a critical situation at the end of a game, they folded against the Falcons. With less than two minutes remaining, the Falcons, who had no timeouts left, scored a game-winning touchdown drive. Two weeks later, the Eagles allowed the Buccaneers to score on consecutive drives during the third quarter to take a 17-point lead.The Eagles gave up five big plays, including a 15-yard face mask penalty, on their last defensive possession against the Browns, but they stayed composed. Rookie cornerback <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/04/nfl-draft-2024-eagles-add-another-db-what-do-the-scouting-reports-say-about-cooper-dejean.html">Cooper DeJean</a> and second-year edge rusher <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/06/eagles-nolan-smith-explains-importance-of-toes-and-why-hes-going-to-turn-the-corner-in-2024.html">Nolan Smith</a> both made plays in the red zone to prevent a touchdown.“I’ve seen (Browns quarterback) Deshaun Watson be Superman before,” Eagles coach <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Nick+Sirianni+nj.com&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8">Nick Sirianni</a> said. “He had some plays today that I’m like, ‘Oh, man, that looked like Deshaun Watson.’ And he makes a play where they run a zone read and Nolan (Smith) levels it out and makes the play, and then I think it was Cooper DeJean that cleaned it up.So that was a huge, huge, huge play on second-and-4. Cooper on the play before that came across and made a play where they had an RPR there.”If the Eagles’ defense plays poorly over the next 12 weeks, they might not win the NFC East or even make the playoffs as a wild-card team. The Eagles need to be consistent in all three defensive phases (pass rush, coverage and tackling) to win a lot of games.Eagles defensive tackle <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2023/09/eagles-breakout-candidate-is-fueled-by-his-fathers-dedication.html">Milton Williams</a> said that “everybody was on the same page” Sunday.“As long as they help us in the secondary and make the (quarterback) tap the ball, we’re going to get there,” Williams said. “It’s always a marriage between the defensive line and secondary. We need them. They need us.”The Eagles held the Browns to a 25% conversion rate on third down. They also made them settle for three field goals and made them punt four times.Overall, the Eagles’ defense dominated, but it doesn’t mean their problems are gone. Coming into the game, the Browns had the league’s worst offensive unit, averaging 239.4 yards per game. Watson has become a bad quarterback in recent years, and their offensive line is banged up.During the game, the Browns lost backup center <a href="https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/players-roster/nick-harris/">Nick Harris</a> and running back <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnfl%2Fplayer%2F_%2Fid%2F4372019%2Fjerome-ford">Jerome Ford</a> to injuries.The Eagles took advantage of Cleveland’s mistakes, including on their last drive. On third-and-3 with four minutes remaining, Browns rookie guard <a href="https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/players-roster/zak-zinter/">Zak Zinter</a> was called for a false start. On the next play, Watson threw an incompletion on third-and-8.In the coming weeks, the Eagles will play against better offenses, which means some of their struggles could return. However, the Eagles are confident their defense can help them win more games.“Proud of how the defense really stepped up and played,” Eagles quarterback <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/jalen-hurts-immense-talent-is-being-overshadowed-by-his-ill-advised-turnovers.html">Jalen Hurts</a> said. “The young guys, Cooper (DeJean) and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Quinyon+(Mitchell)++nj.com&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8">Quinyon (Mitchell)</a> stepping up against some really good receivers. <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/eagles-brandon-graham-is-about-to-begin-his-final-season-what-should-we-expect-for-an-encore.html">Brandon Graham</a> obviously showing up in his 200th game. That’s really hard to do. So that’s a testament to him and his journey, and the leader he is. And <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/eagles-dbs-rare-personality-is-not-loved-by-everyone-he-doesnt-care-if-you-like-him.html">Chauncey (Gardner-Johnson)</a> being able to step up and make some plays as well.“And then obviously up front, being able to wreck the quarterback and get after the quarterback like they did. So from what I saw, we’re very happy about that. Made some big time stops, made some big plays on the perimeter. Always good to have those guys out there.”Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust.Cayden Steele may be reached at <a href="mailto:CSteele@njadvancemedia.com">CSteele@njadvancemedia.com</a></div></body>

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Eagles found their ‘identity’ on defense after removing distractions: ‘We had to clear our heads’

PHILADELPHIA — During the first four weeks of the season, the Eagles’ defense didn’t show much promise. The defensive line didn’t generate enough pressure, a lot of players missed tackles and the secondary allowed too many easy catches. Opposing teams averaged 365.8 yards and scored 24 points per game against them.

Eagles found their ‘identity’ on defense after removing distractions: ‘We had to clear our heads’

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