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, the sixth fewest rushing yards and the sixth fewest of any team this season.

They did all of 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 this Sunday. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has coached for decades and routinely produced respectable defenses.

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

“Yeah, (Vic Fangio) has been on a few different teams, obviously, recently. Then his coaching tree is pretty big as well,” Lawrence said. “So, I mean you look at the Chargers or something like that when Staley (San Francisco 49ers Assistant Head Coach/Defense Brandon Staley) was there, the defense with a similar system. Denver, played against him in a similar scheme, and then my rookie year, played against him in Denver as well. So yeah, I mean it’s just… well-coached defense. They know what to do. Everything looks the same, very good disguises.

Lawrence noted that Fangio and the Eagles defense do a solid job of obscuring their defensive schemes, making it difficult to predict what’s coming next.

While Lawrence has faced Fangio before in his career, he understands that the Eagles’ personnel makes the unit one of the best Fangio has had since he has been in the league.

“Everything comes out of this shell, and then at some point it changes.” Lawrence said. “They do a good job of hiding some of the pressure. They mix up the fronts. It’s not a group that presses a ton necessarily. They just do it at the right time. They’re on the same page. They really emphasize your protection when they like to be one to one.

“This D-line is a very good group. So they play to their strengths and then the guys in the back fly. These supporters are really physical, very physical. Then the back is smart and they have good ball skills and they all play together. So I think you see their defense, every week you watch the season, they’ve gotten better every week.

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

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