Vic Fangio notes: Thoughts on defense, Jalen Carter and more

Vic Fangio notes: Thoughts on defense, Jalen Carter and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Vic Fangio’s defense put together another masterpiece on Sunday in Buffalo.

That unit is playing at an elite level right now.

The Eagles gave up just 12 points to the Buffalo Bills and reigning MVP Josh Allen in Week 17 and haven’t given up more than 24 points in a game since Week 6. Since the bye week, the Eagles have the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense, giving up an average of just 14.5 points per game.

“I think we’ve grown from week-to-week, which is what you want,” Fangio said on Tuesday. “Particularly if you have a bunch of young guys, which we still do. We’re in the stage of guys can get better and better and better. Even our veteran-type players, I mean outside of [Brandon Graham] I would guess you would say they’re still in the growing stage. 

“They’ve done that and that always makes you happy. We’ve kind of found our niche the way we like to play, which is something you’re always looking for as a coach. The guys have been fun to coach.”

There was a fair expectation that the Eagles’ defense would take a step back in 2025 after winning Super Bowl LIX. After all, they lost key players from that team like Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. But the Eagles are about to enter the playoffs again with what appears to be a championship-level group.

Fangio was asked if this group reminds him of the defense that won a Super Bowl last year.

“A little bit,” Fangio said. “We just have a lot of new names this year instead of the guys that were here last year. But it does a little bit, certainly.”

There’s a lot of youth on this defense and players have grown throughout the season. Fangio on Tuesday was asked if there’s a benefit to coaching a bunch of young players.

“If they’re good players,” Fangio said. “I like a lot of good players. They make me look smart.”

A strong return

Defensive tackle Jalen Carter returned to the field on Sunday and looked like he was back to his dominant form. Carter missed the previous three games after getting shots in both shoulders a month ago.

“I thought he played well,” Fangio said. “I really didn’t know how he would play because he missed three games, I believe, and didn’t practice until this past week during that time. I thought he played well, I think he’s off to a good start and hopefully he’ll build on that and play good down the stretch here and into the playoffs.”

Against the Bills, Carter had two pressures, a sack, a batted pass and a huge blocked PAT try. After the game, Carter seemed pleased by how his shoulder held up in that game.

If Carter can play at that level in the playoffs, it’ll be a huge boost for this already-suffocating defense.

First start in two months

Nakobe Dean missed the Eagles’ Week 17 game with a hamstring injury, which allowed rookie Jihaad Campbell to get his first start since Week 8 on Oct. 26.

The rookie played pretty well.

“Yeah, I thought he did good,” Fangio said. “Obviously, there’s plays he’d like to have back and do over, but we don’t get mulligans. But I do think it will help him moving forward if he has to play again this week for Nakobe and then if he has to be called upon in the playoff game.”

Campbell, 21, handled losing his starting job earlier this season well and clearly stayed ready. Against the Bills, he had 7 tackles and a fumble recovery that he had to run down a long way. Campbell should get his second straight start in Week 18.

Stunting on ‘em

The Eagles sacked Josh Allen five times on Sunday, which is the second-most sacks the Bills have given up in a game all season. This defensive line is cooking right now.

One of their five sacks came on a beautiful T-E stunt executed by Moro Ojomo and Jalyx Hunt, who came free.

Fangio on Tuesday said there are some concrete rules for his defensive linemen with stunts and then explained a little bit about what dictates when they run those stunts.

“The front dictates it,” Fangio said. “Some of those stunts, I call. Some of them, based upon what front I call, they have the freedom to run a stunt under the guidelines we give them.”

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