The Eagles’ Darius Slay gives Zach Baun top DPOI support

The Philadelphia Eagles have surprised fans and pundits across the NFL this season, not with their outstanding record, but with the way they are winning games.

Everyone knew it was The Eagles could run the ball with Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts, but the Eagles’ defense became arguably the best unit in the league and carried them into a Divisional Round appearance against the Los Angeles Rams.

One of the biggest reasons for their return to that side of the ball under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is the emergence of linebacker Zach Baun. Baun wasn’t even a full-time off-ball linebacker before this season, but he’s blossomed into one of the league’s best at his position.

Before the big playoff showdown, the cornerback Darius Slay noisy about Baun’s performance this season and stated that he thought Baun was named Defensive Player of the Year.

“Not to call anyone out because these guys are amazing too, but if Roquan Smith had the stats that Zach Bown has, there would be no question who the Defensive Player of the Year is,” Slay said. “If Bobby Wagner had stats like this, there’s no doubt he’d be Defensive Player of the Year.” Just the fact that it’s Zack Baun, a guy who transferred from somewhere else, I just don’t think they’re giving him the credit to be a defensive player of the year candidate. If Fred Warner had the stats he has, you’re not going to tell me that Fred Warner wouldn’t be Defensive Player of the Year.

The Eagles’ defense leads them to the Divisional Round

The The Eagles defense made a play on Sunday in a 22-10 rout of the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round. While the Eagles couldn’t get anything going in the passing game on Sunday, their defense forced four turnovers to set up a series of scoring opportunities for the win.

Zach Baun and company have become a suffocating unit that presents a difficult task for all opponents, no matter how good the opposing offense is. The Eagles’ defensive line can catch the passer both inside and on the edge, they found two very good rookie defensive backs in Cooper DeJean and Quinion Mitchell, and Baun ties the whole thing together as one of the best middle linebackers in the league. league.

Moving forward in the playoffs, this The Eagles defense will have a lot going for it against a handful of good offenses. The three remaining NFL offenses outside of the Eagles, Rams, Commandos and Lions are the three best offenses in the NFL, and a potential Super Bowl matchup would be against one of the best quarterbacks in the world.

Even so, this Eagles team has shown they can handle anything thrown at their side of the ball on defense.