The Philadelphia Eagles are 8-1. They hold the NFL’s best record and sit atop the NFC.

Their offense ranks at or near the top of the league in most statistical categories (EPA per play – 4th, success rate – 5th, and yards per game – 5th to name a few).

Defensively, they have more sacks through nine games this year (30) than they did last year through nine games (29). Of course, Philadelphia finished 2022 with a franchise record 70 sacks on the season (two shy of the NFL single-season record).

As they prepare to kick off the second half of the 2023 season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, there are still a few lingering obstacles floating around the team.

Yes, the Eagles are 8-1, but they have yet to have a pure wire-to-wire game in which they are head and shoulders better than the team they’re facing.

They’ve also dealt with a bevy of injuries in the secondary. Through nine games, they’ve played 15 different defensive backs and have had a revolving door at nickel corner. This is undoubtedly the driving force behind their 28th-ranked passing defense.

Despite all of this, somehow, they’ve managed to just keep winning. Here are three ways they can continue their winning ways:

3) Re-Establish the Run

Throughout the first four weeks of the season, the Eagles ranked 2nd in rushing yards per game, fourth in yards per rush, and first in rush success rate.

In the five subsequent games, they’ve fallen to 20th in yards per game, 30th in yards per rush, and 16th in rush success rate.

What changed? Two words: Cam. Jurgens.

While Jurgens’ absence isn’t the main reason for the dip in production from the running game, it’s certainly one of the biggest reasons. The nine-game sample size with Jurgens in the lineup vs. when he isn’t is undeniable.

Outside of Jurgens, the Eagles have simply looked like a different team running the football this season. Gone is the RPO game. Gap scheme runs (where the Eagles ranked 1st in success rate a season ago) are gone.

With Jalen Hurts’ reported knee bone bruise, the running game will have to find its footing in the second half of the season. The return of Cam Jurgens will help a ton, but overall the running game needs a facelift.

The rush defense of the Eagles final eight opponents:

Week 11, Chiefs: No. 17 (112.2 ypg — 4.6 ypc)
Week 12, Bills: No. 19 (114.4 ypg — 4.9 ypc)
Week 13, 49ers: No. 4 (83.1 ypg — 4.0 ypc)
Week 14, Cowboys: No. 15 (109.1 ypg — 4.1 ypc)
Week 15, Seahawks: No. 20 (116.0 ypg — 4.3 ypc)
Week 16, Giants: No. 24 (131.2 ypg — 4.7 ypc)
Week 17: Cardinals, No. 28 (134.2 ypg — 4.2 ypc) 
Week 18: Giants, No. 24 (131.2 ypg — 4.7 ypc)

2) Continue to lean on strengths defensively

As mentioned above, the Eagles have trotted out 15 different defensive backs in the first nine games of the season.

This isn’t a recipe for success.

They acquired two-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro safety Kevin Byard in an effort to stabilize the safety position opposite Reed Blankenship, who has missed two games this season.

Byard has had a bit of an adjustment period, allowing 15.1 yards per completion and a 118.7 passer rating when targeted.

Again, despite these issues, the Eagles have found ways to win. They’ve made plays when plays have been needed to be made.

First-year defensive coordinator, Sean Desai, has seemingly pressed all of the right buttons at all of the right times. He’s done this by leaning on the strengths of his defense: the front four.

Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Jalen Carter, and Fletcher Cox have all flat-out overwhelmed opposing offenses at times this season. And it’s not only the starters. Veteran Brandon Graham, Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and rookie Nolan Smith have all flashed at key points early on in the 2023 season as well.

General Manager Howie Roseman’s roster construction philosophy is built on investing in the trenches first and foremost, and thus far in 2023, it’s yielded incredibly positive results.

If Desai and the Birds defense want to not only continue their success but improve on it as well, it’d behoove them to continue to lean on the big boys up front.

1) Let the stars be stars

Simply put, the Eagles’ offense is an unstoppable force.

They boast the best offensive line in professional football, a top-ten rusher in D’Andre Swift, one of the upper-echelon tight ends in the NFL in Dallas Goedert, quite possibly the best wide receiver duo in the NFL in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and without a doubt, a top-five quarterback in the NFL in Jalen Hurts.

This offense is star-studded and it begins (and ends) with Jalen Hurts.

The leap Hurts has taken as a pocket passer in 2023 has been phenomenal. Prior to the start of the 2023 season, reports surfaced that the Eagles brass believed there was yet another major leap for Hurts and they were correct.

His processing speed, decision-making, and accuracy have all improved and quite frankly Hurts’ looks the best he’s ever looked as an NFL passer.

Elsewhere, the Eagles pass catchers have simply been elite through nine games, namely, A.J. Brown who’s played like the best receiver in the NFL thus far in the season.

Brown became the first wide receiver to amass 125 or more yards in six straight games. He can simply do it all. In breakers, go-balls, crossers, and screens, Brown is elite in every sense of the word.

Opposite him is DeVonta Smith, who while he hasn’t had a signature performance thus far in the season, he’s shown up when his number has been called.

Through the first few weeks of the season, Brian Johnson faced some scrutiny on play-calling decisions and red zone efficiency. As we head into the 2nd half of the season, Johnson has the Eagles offense humming. The Eagles rank 6th in team offense, 4th in offensive EPA, and 12th in red zone efficiency.

Johnson has been able to steady the ship and push the right buttons by letting his leaders make plays. Prior to the start of the season, Jalen Hurts spoke about the freedom and leeway he was awarded, and fast forward a few months into the season and it’s paid dividends.

And Johnson knows that although the first nine weeks of the season can be considered a success, there’s still more headway that can be made.

“By no means are we a finished product nor do we expect to be a finished product. At week 9, it’s about just constant growth, the constant ability to evolve offensively and continue to have that growth mindset,” Johnson said to the media on Friday.

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They undoubtedly have things to iron out and clean up, but if Philadelphia is going to have any semblance of the success they achieved early on in the season, they will continue to lean on their strengths and hone in on what they do well.

The Eagles travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch on Monday night.

Cover Image Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports