3 Eagles Who Must Be Benched Before the Playoffs
By Joe Summers
2. James Bradberry - CB
One year after making the Pro Bowl as one of the better value corners in the league, Bradberry has been a disaster this season.
Opposing QBs have a passer rating of 117.7 when targeting Bradberry after posting a 51.6 mark last year and Darius Slay's recent injury put a larger spotlight on Bradberry's struggles.
Drew Lock cooked James Bradberry on the final drive.
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) December 19, 2023
Every pass that was caught was defended by him.
(via @Philly_Laz) pic.twitter.com/RBVFBwp4TQ
He was targeted eight times against Seattle, surrendering seven catches for 116 yards and the game-losing TD. Bradberry was on the field for 98% of the snaps in the loss and the Eagles need to find a solution quickly.
Otherwise, teams will have no issue targeting Bradberry throughout the playoffs, potentially leading to an early exit. The Eagles are giving up 7.7 yards per pass attempt over the last three weeks, in large part due to Bradberry's issues.
Letting young players like Kelee Ringo get more action may be a solution, though I expect Howie Roseman to be proactive in attacking the secondary this offseason.
Philadelphia's issues aren't exclusive to the defense and there's one person on offense who should be held accountable as well.