A fast-paced offense led by Saquon Barkley, preparing for a challenge from the Ravens

For Jordan Mailatathe euphoria of watching a tape of Saquon Barkley going crazy during a game against the Los Angeles Rams after Sunday’s victory for the Eagles quickly gave way to dismay at studying the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive front.

The Eagles’ upcoming game against the 8-4 Ravens will feature plenty of good matchups on both sides of the court, but one that definitely stands out is the matchup between one of the league’s best offenses and one of the best running defenses this season.

The Eagles have created an offensive identity around Barkley’s skillset create explosive fun The team’s offensive line often clears lanes, but it’s going to be tough on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore enters the game ranked first in rushing yards per carry allowed, second in total rushing yards and eighth in defense-adjusted rushing average, an efficiency metric that reflects a tight schedule.

After watching clips of the game, Mailata said the Ravens are trying to use their talent to be the first to overtake their opponent, and they have plenty of it. The team’s defensive line is often deployed in odd fronts and is led by pro wide receiver Nnamdi Madubuike with All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith operating behind the group. In the secondary, All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton’s versatility also makes a difference in the run game, as he can line up in multiple alignments closer to the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc.

“They are disciplined and have great defenders,” Mailata said. “They play downfield and stop the run. That’s what they’re looking for: getting down and making sure no linemen get to the second level. They will bring a free edge safety or a nickel from the edge. … We have a lot of work ahead of us because when you have a great scheme and great players, playing against a defense like that is difficult.”

The Ravens will likely be without Kyle Van Noy, but Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said Smith is expected to play after missing Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Michael Pierce, his 6-0, 355-pounder who has missed the last four games on injured reserve with a calf injury, is also questionable for Sunday’s game.

Even if they are missing a few pieces, the Eagles’ offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said the group’s stylistic approach, led by first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr, will pose a challenge.

“They are in really good shape,” Moore said. “I think you can see that they are all coordinated and working together. They understand their tasks, the sound of the break and things like that. “The bakers do a great job of adapting to the flow of the game. The tips arrange the edges well. Everything is really well connected.”

Right attack of the Eagles Lane Johnson he added: “They are really physically strong in attack. They are very healthy. They have large bodies. They do a great job with two breaks and defenders kind of feed off of them. They are really great at using space. This will be a challenge. All things considered, they also have a talented supporting cast. And when you look at the O-line and the D-line, both lines are pretty solid.

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The Ravens’ emphasis on stopping the run, however, may come at the expense of pass defense. The group ranks last in total passing yards, 24th in net yards allowed per attempt and 19th in passing DVOA. This discrepancy may be tempting Eagles they abandoned the first-round approach that led them to a seven-game winning streak after their Week 5 bye.

“We know it’s a good defense,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni he said. “We are a good offense. It’s good, good. The same goes for their offense and our defense. We’ll see what the game will look like. You never know how the game will turn out. You never know what the situation will be.”

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Still, the Eagles have had success in the past keeping their streak going, even against the best defense in the league. Last year, they rushed for 259 yards against a Minnesota Vikings defense that finished the season fourth in yards allowed per attempt, and in 2021, they managed to gain 242 yards rushing against the top-ranked New Orleans Saints.

What made the difference for the Eagles in these games? Jalen hurtsThe ability to keep the ball on shotgun runs is a major factor in the outcome of the game, as is the Eagles’ ability to win on offense, even against the best opposition defenses.

Add Barkley to the equation and one wonders if the Eagles will be able to stick to the formula against the Ravens’ talented forward.

“When you look at these games, it’s all about execution,” Johnson said. “It’s always competitive, but I think the most important thing is to stay consistent in our blocking combinations and when we get to defenders, we don’t lose base and we stay underneath them so the runner can do special things with the ball. What he can do motivates us to do better and be better.”

The Eagles play on Sunday afternoon in Week 13 against the Ravens in Baltimore. Join Eagles reporters Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith as they analyze the team’s hottest stories on Gameday Central, live from M&T Bank Stadium.