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For Jordan Mailatathe euphoria of watching the tape of Saquon Barkley running wildly into the Los Angeles Rams in the aftermath of the Los Angeles Rams the Eagles’ victory last Sunday quickly gave way to the consternation of studying the Baltimore Ravens defensive front.

The Eagles’ upcoming matchup against the 8-4 Ravens will feature plenty of good-on-good matchups on both sides of the ball, but the clash between one of the league’s best rushing attacks against one of this league’s best run defenses season stands out. .

The Eagles have formed an offensive identity around Barkley’s ability to do that make explosive plays the team’s offensive line gets out of bounds so often, but it will 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 allowed and eighth in defense-adjusted above average against the run, an efficiency measure that takes into account the power of the schedule.

After seeing the group’s breakdowns, Mailata said the Ravens make a point of using their talent to take away the run first, and they have plenty of that. The team’s defensive line is often deployed on odd fronts and is led by Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike, while All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith operates behind the group. In the secondary, All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton’s versatility also plays a role in the run game, as he can line up closer to the line of scrimmage from multiple formations and wreak havoc.

“They are disciplined and have great linebackers,” Mailata said. “They play downhill and stop the run. That’s really what they’re looking for, going downhill and making sure no lineman reaches the second level. They bring a free safety off the edge or a nickel off the edge. … We have a lot of work ahead of us because when you have a great scheme and great players, that’s a tough defense to play against.

The Ravens will likely be without edge rusher 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, their 6-0, 355-pound nose tackle who has missed the last four games on injured reserve with a calf injury, is also questionable for Sunday’s game.

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

“They’re really healthy,” Moore said. “I think you can see that they’re all aligned, they’re all working together. They understand their commands, gap sound, all that stuff. “Backers do a great job of fitting into the run game. The ends do a good job of setting the edges. It’s all very, very well connected.”

Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson added: “They are really physical up front. They are very solid. They have large bodies. They do a great job with two holes, and the linebackers feed off of them. They are very good at organizing space. It’s going to be a challenge. Looking across the board, they also have a talented secondary. And if you look at the O-line and the D-line, both lines are pretty solid.”

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However, the Ravens’ emphasis on stopping the run may come at the expense of their passing defense. The group ranks last in total passing yards allowed, 24th in net yards gained per attempt and 19th in DVOA against the pass. That inequality can cause temptation Eagles in abandoning the run-first approach that led them to a seven-game winning streak after their Week 5 bye.

“We know this is a good defense,” the Eagles coach said Nick Sirianni said. “We are a good offense. It’s good on good. The same goes in reverse with their offense and our defense. We’ll see how the game turns out. You never know how the game will go. You never know what the situation will be like.”

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Still, the Eagles have found success in the past by holding on to runs even against the league’s best rushing defenses. Last year, they rushed for 259 yards against a Minnesota Vikings defense that finished the season fourth in yards allowed per attempt and managed 242 rushing yards against the top-ranked New Orleans Saints in 2021.

What made the difference for the Eagles in these games? Jalen hurtsThe Eagles’ ability to keep the ball on shotgun runs is a key contributor, as is the Eagles’ ability to win up front, even against the opponent’s best defensive lines.

Add Barkley to the equation and you might wonder if the Eagles can stick to the formula against this talented Ravens front.

“It all comes down to the execution when you look at those games,” Johnson said. “It’s always competitive, but I think the most important thing is to stay consistent with our combo blocks and, when you get on defenders, don’t lose base and stay under them so you can get a running back to do special things with the ball . What he can do drives us to do better and be better.”

The Eagles play the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday afternoon in Week 13. Join Eagles reporters Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith as they break down the hottest storylines surrounding the team on Gameday Central. live from M&T Bank Stadium.