Eagles' top-ranked defense sets sights on Bryce Young, Panthers

The stingy, streaking Eagles will play four of their last five games in Philadelphia, starting with Sunday's visit from the Carolina Panthers.

The Eagles (10-2) are 8-0 since their bye week, holding opponents to averages of 15.3 points and 241.3 total yards per game during that span while collecting 30 sacks and 12 takeaways and giving up just six touchdown passes.

Linebacker Zack Baun leads the Eagles with 118 tackles -- 30 more than he accumulated during his first four NFL seasons (2020-23) with the New Orleans Saints combined.

"I think a lot of guys on this defense and this team have been underdogs for a long time, having a chip on their shoulder," Baun said after Sunday's 24-19 road win against the Baltimore Ravens.

"I know I have, and ... a lot of these linebackers also. (We're) just playing aggressive. We want to grind on teams, and we want to wear them out."

Fueled by MVP candidate Saquon Barkley, the Eagles have been wearing opponents out on offense, too. Barkley leads the NFL with 1,499 rushing yards after gaining 107 against the Ravens, his eighth 100-yard game this season to match Wilbert Montgomery's 1981 team record.

Philadelphia is one shy of matching the franchise's record nine-game winning streak set in 1960 and matched in 2003 and 2017. The Eagles also can clinch a playoff spot with a victory or a tie and some help.

The Panthers (3-9) arrive at Lincoln Financial Field with a 1-4 road record and a two-game losing streak. Both of those defeats were by three points, including last weekend's 26-23 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina's last four games have been decided by a total of 10 points.

The Carolina offense ranks 30th in the league in scoring (18.1 points per game) and total yards (292.3 per game) heading into the meeting with Philadelphia's No. 1 defense (282.8 yards per game).

Despite the daunting challenge that awaits on Sunday afternoon, there is reason for optimism for the Panthers.

Second-year quarterback Bryce Young has shown flashes of why he was the No. 1 pick in 2023, playing some of his best football since regaining his starting role in Week 8. He has not thrown an interception in his last three starts and has at least one touchdown pass in five straight games.

Young completed a career-high 26 of 46 passes for 298 yards against the Buccaneers, including the go-ahead TD pass to Adam Thielen with 30 seconds left in regulation. He also rushed for a touchdown.

"Just decisiveness and having a plan," Carolina coach Dave Canales said when asked what he's seen from Young in recent weeks. "Things that we talk about through the week, that come alive on game day, and they've been in these critical situations for the last two weeks, for sure ... so, I love just how decisive and the mechanics of all those things have been."

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (rest/knee) was the only Panthers player who did not practice Wednesday. Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck), cornerback Caleb Farley (shoulder), and linebackers Josey Jewell (hamstring) and D.J. Wonnum (knee) were limited.

Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was a full participant, and cornerback Darius Slay (concussion) was limited on Wednesday. Smith has missed the last two games, and Slay did not play at Baltimore. Tight end Dallas Goedert (knee), safeties Reed Blankenship (concussion) and Sydney Brown (knee), and receiver Britain Covey (neck) did not practice.

The Eagles are 8-5 all-time against the Panthers, including in the playoffs. Philadelphia won the most recent meeting 21-18 on Oct. 10, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C.

--Field Level Media