Jaguars Star Blunt on Week 9 Opponent

The Philadelphia Eagles defense has allowed the fourth-fewest yards of any team this season. They have allowed the sixth-fewest first downs, sixth-fewest rushing yards and sixth-fewest of any team this season.

They’ve done all this while being the least penalized defense in the National Football League this season.

A Jaguars offense that has struggled overall this season will face one of the most respected defensive minds in the league next Sunday. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been coaching for decades and has routinely produced respectable defenses.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence knows how difficult it will be to move the ball in Fangio’s defense on Sunday.

“Yeah, (Vic Fangio has) obviously been on a few different teams lately. Then his coaching tree is pretty big too,” Lawrence said. “So I mean, you look at Chargers or something like that when Staley (San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach/defensive end Brandon Staley) was there, that defense with a similar system. Denver played him in a similar scheme, and my rookie year also played him in Denver. So yeah, I mean, he’s just a well-coached defensive end. They know what to do. Everything looks the same, really good disguises.

Lawrence noted that the Fangio and Eagles defenses do a good job of disguising their defensive schemes, making it difficult to predict what will happen.

Although Lawrence has played against Fangio before in his career, he understands that the Eagles’ personnel make the unit one of the best Fangio has had since he was in the league.

“It all comes out of this shell, and then it changes in no time,” said Laurens. “They do a good job of disguising certain pressures. They mix up the fronts. It’s not necessarily a group that applies a lot of pressure. They just do it at the right time. They’re on the same page. They really put the emphasis on your protection when They like to do that.

“This D-line is a really good group. So they play to their strengths, and then the guys at the back are flying around. These backers are really physical, very physical. Then the back is smart, and they’ve got good ball skills and they all play together. So when you see their defense, every week as you watch the season, they get better and better every week.”

The Jaguars have lost several games this season that they should have won. Sooner or later the Jaguars have to win a game that isn’t expected. Sunday against the Eagles would be the perfect time.

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