After a grueling Black Friday matchup against the Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles defense logged an unprecedented 87 snaps—the most they’ve played this season and the highest since 2023.
Defensive Workload
That 87‑snap effort tied the record for the most snaps the Eagles have played in a single game under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The only time the team surpassed that number was in an overtime game against Buffalo in 2023, when they ran 95 defensive snaps. Players Cooper DeJean, Zack Baun, Reed Blankenship, and Quinyon Mitchell were the only defenders who stayed on the field for every snap.
DeJean said, “I don’t know if I really pay attention to it. I never really notice it during the game that we were out there for 87 snaps. I think my mindset is to go out there whenever I’m called upon to do my job. Never really thinking about how much we’re out there or how my body is feeling during the game. It’s all adrenaline. At the end of the day, just go out there and do our job.”
Offense Struggles and Third‑Down Pressure
The Eagles’ offense has struggled with frequent 3‑and‑outs, which can quickly bring the defense back on the field. In the recent game, the defense allowed the Bears to convert on 10 of 17 third‑down attempts. This pattern keeps the defense busy and can lead to more snaps.
Season‑Long Snap Trends
Throughout the 2024 season, the Eagles’ defense averaged 61.6 snaps per game, up to 67.6 in the current season. That pace projects an extra 102 snaps for the remainder of the year. In the last two games, the defense ran 74 snaps against the Cowboys and 87 against the Bears.
Fangio’s Perspective
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said, “We have no control over how and when we get on the field. We can only control how we get off the field. We didn’t do a good enough job of that in this past game. We had been in the previous games, and we’ve got to get back to where we’re playing better defense.”
Off‑Field Relaxation: The Juicer
After the Black Friday game, DeVonta Smith found a new way to unwind. “I bought me a juicer,” Smith said. “I’ve been squeezing oranges, apples and pineapples for the past four days. It’s amazing. The best orange and apple juice I’ve ever had is when I squeeze my own.”
Smith added that he bought the manual juicer after seeing a TikTok video. “Somebody told me to get the automatic, but I was like, doing it myself makes me feel like I’m actually doing something instead of doing just the automatic.” He said apple juice is his favorite, and that he needs to buy about a hundred apples to fill the jar, but it’s worth it.
Positivity Bunny
Veteran running back A.J. Dillon brought a giant inflatable Positivity Bunny into the locker room on Saturday to keep spirits high. “I’ve been told it’s a vibes bunny,” Saquon Barkley said. “And the vibes are high right now.”
Offensive Coordinator on the Sideline
Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was asked why he prefers staying on the field. “I think the communication with the players is important,” Patullo said. “I’ve been on, since I’ve been here in ’21, I’ve been on the field every time. I think there’s a lot of communication with players, coaches on the field, making sure adjustments are done correctly.”
He continued, “I’ve been on the field for a long, long time. I don’t think I’ve been in the box since maybe 2011 as a coach. So, it’s been a while. I think just the relationship I have with the guys and the communication has been good, and we’ve just got to continue to improve in other areas and we’ll be alright.”
DeVonta Smith’s Recent Catch
DeVonta Smith, who had been dealing with injuries and illness, was asked about a spectacular catch against the Cowboys a couple weeks ago. He said, “I don’t know. I felt like that was just kind of a normal catch.” When prompted, he added, “Yeah, kinda.”
Jordan Mailata’s Award Nomination
The Eagles announced that left tackle Jordan Mailata is their nominee for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Landon Dickerson joked, “I absolutely hate the guy,” before adding, “I love Jordan. Couldn’t be happier for him. The guy does so much stuff on and off the field, especially to help the community, really support everyone around him and really give back because he’s in such a blessed position. Super happy for him. I’m really glad he got nominated for it. I think we’ve known for a while now.”
Jalen Hurts said, “I think that’s a heck of an honor to be able to represent your team, be able to represent the league and his family in something so prestigious. The things that he means to this team and what he means to the community, having a journey that is unique as his and coming and learning the game of football and being one of the best at it. I’m glad he gets to soak in that moment. I think for him, someone who is being so diligent about his game, diligent about himself and how he represents himself. Wanting to continue to grow as a person. That’s a big congrats to him.”
Center Cam Jurgens said, “He cares for everybody.” He added that Mailata never turns anyone down and is the ultimate person for the award.
Nick Sirianni’s Support for New Coaches
Nick Sirianni expressed excitement for former Mount Union teammate Matt Campbell, who was hired as the new head coach at Penn State. “Yeah, I’m really excited for him and the opportunity he has. Well-deserved,” Sirianni said. “Phenomenal, phenomenal football coach. Phenomenal person, great family. I’ve been an Iowa State fan for the last 10 years.”
He also praised fellow Mount Union alumnus Jason Candle, who was just hired at UConn. “I think the guy who probably doesn’t get enough credit, now he does from us, is we all went to school at Mount Union,” Sirianni said. “For the various degrees that we went for, we didn’t know we’d leave in a doctorate degree of football coaching. So [former Mount Union head coach] Larry Kehres deserves a lot of credit for all of us being in these positions right now.”
Key Takeaways
- Eagles defense logged 87 snaps vs Bears, the most since 2023.
- Defensive workload is rising, with an extra 102 snaps projected for the season.
- Off‑field stories—juicing, Positivity Bunny, and award nominations—highlight team camaraderie.
With the defense burning through more snaps and the offense battling 3‑and‑outs, the Eagles are looking to balance play‑calling while keeping morale high through quirky off‑field activities and community recognition.
