Section 215
Fansided

Hated Eagle Finally Showed How He Can Help Philly Win in Week 14

Avonte Maddox made a spectacular special teams play to help beat the Panthers.

By Joe Summers

Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts on the sidelines during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts on the sidelines during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images / Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Eagles CB Avonte Maddox has endured a poor season by his standards but managed to make a critical special teams play late in Philadelphia's narrow victory over the Carolina Panthers.

While his best days in the secondary appear to be behind him, Maddox finally showed he can made a positive impact on special teams. With the emergence of rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, Maddox may now be transitioning to more of a supportive role.

He's spent his entire seven-year career with the organization and drawn the ire of fans this season. Thankfully, Maddox still has an ability to make game-winning plays.

Eagles CB Avonte Maddox Makes Key Special Teams Play vs. Panthers

There weren't a lot of positive takeaways from the contest. The Eagles won and staved off a comeback attempt, though fans are justifiably concerned about the performance, especially offensively. A.J. Brown took a shot at Jalen Hurts following the victory and there are problems that need to be addressed.

Philadelphia's defense has been among the NFL's best despite Maddox's issues. The Eagles face the Steelers next week in what'll be a critical test and Maddox can be part of the solution, not the problem. He's played only 34% of the defensive snaps this season but has seen an uptick on special teams.

Following his excellent play on Sunday, those special teams snaps should continue to rise.

He ranks 183rd out of 213 qualified cornerbacks at Pro Football Focus, playing in 13 games but receiving just two starts. Maddox has 15 tackles and five deflected passes, though it's become clear that Philadelphia's other defensive backs are better options.

An unrestricted free agent next year, Maddox would prefer to stick with the organization and sign a new contract. If the Eagles choose to keep him, he'll presumably take a large paycut and become more of a depth piece than critical piece of the defense.

The veteran leader is a positive influence on the locker room and if he can keep making big plays in the forgotten third, he could remain a valued player for the franchise. Considering how much Maddox has struggled overall, it was great to see him help seal the victory.

More Philadelphia Eagles News:

feed

Home/Philadelphia Eagles