The Eagles recorded pressures on 42% of Goff’s dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats.
When they blitzed, he went 2-for-7 with a sack and a forced fumble.
When they didn’t, he went 14-for-25 — mostly checkdowns that never crossed the sticks.

Desai’s balance — aggression without recklessness — forced Detroit into exactly the kind of game it hates: slow, reactive, conservative.

IX. The Secondary’s Redemption

Much had been made of Philadelphia’s secondary entering the game — too old, too banged-up, too inconsistent.

Not on this night.

Slay and Bradberry were flawless.
Slot corner Avonte Maddox shadowed St. Brown all over the field, holding him to a season-low 42 yards.
Blankenship played centerfield like a conductor, ensuring every deep shot died before liftoff.

“They were on a string,” said Desai. “That’s what coverage and rush working together looks like.”

When asked afterward if he was surprised by how little separation Detroit receivers got, Slay laughed.
“Nope. Not surprised. Motivated.”

X. The Unsung Heroes: Linebackers and Communication

While the stars drew headlines, the glue came from the middle — Nakobe Dean and Zach Cunningham, who orchestrated the front with symphonic precision.

Dean’s film study paid off repeatedly.
On one crucial third-and-two, he diagnosed a trap play before the snap, shooting the gap and blowing up Montgomery behind the line.

“That was film, all film,” Dean said. “We knew their split when they ran that.”

The communication between levels — line, linebackers, and secondary — was pristine.
No blown coverages, no late rotations, no cheap yards.

It’s what Sirianni later called “silent dominance.”

XI. The Emotional Pulse

Philadelphia feeds on emotion — and few defenses ride momentum like this one.

After Blankenship’s interception, the sideline turned electric.
Defensive linemen barked, linebackers chest-bumped, Slay waved his arms to the crowd.

“We smell blood,” Reddick told cameras afterward. “When we get that feeling, it’s over.”

That emotional surge carried into every snap, every stunt, every gang tackle.
By the fourth quarter, Detroit’s offense looked resigned — shoulders slumped, huddle quiet, tempo gone.

XII. The Offense’s Complementary Role

While Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense weren’t explosive, they were efficient — long drives that kept the defense rested and Detroit frustrated.

“Every time they got off the field, we told them, ‘We got you,’” said Hurts. “That’s how team football works.”

The Eagles dominated time of possession (34:21 to 25:39), forcing the Lions into a rhythm they never wanted: chasing.

XIII. The Postgame Scene

In the locker room afterward, the energy was celebration without arrogance.
Music thumped softly, not chaotically. Players smiled, but they were already dissecting the film in their minds.

“Because that’s who we are,” said Sirianni. “We don’t play to prove people wrong. We play to prove ourselves right.”

Reddick sat at his locker still half-dressed, eyes sharp.
“Good win,” he said, “but that’s just the standard. We want to be the reason teams dread us.”

XIV. The Lions’ Reality Check

Dan Campbell didn’t sugarcoat anything.

“They beat us in every phase,” he said. “We thought we could match their physicality. We couldn’t.”