Vic Fangio Should Be on the Hot Seat After Eagles' Defensive Disaster in Week 4

The Philadelphia Eagles made the conscious decision this offseason to part ways with offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and defensive coordinator Sean Desai after last year's debacle. It was a bold move by the Eagles as they kept head coach Nick Sirianni intact.

Philadelphia hired Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio to replace Johnson and Desai. On paper, the decision to go with Fangio seemed like the perfect move as the Eagles’ defense faltered down the stretch in 2023 and needed a new identity.

However, through four games, the veteran defensive coordinator has struggled to establish that identity as the Eagles’ defense got shredded by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense.

Heading into this game, the Eagles' defense was ranked 16th in passing yards allowed (204.7) but 28th in sacks (four). A team that cannot get any pressure is a sitting duck for a quarterback like Mayfield.

Fangio’s scheme got torched as Mayfield competed 30-of-47 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Philadelphia’s defense only recorded two sacks and two QB hits, which is almost unfathomable.

The Eagles have struggled to create pressure this season, producing just 19 quarterback pressures, ranked towards the bottom of the league. 

Fangio was supposed to help Philadelphia with their pass-rushing woes from last season. But he’s failed to do so, with free-agent signing Bryce Huff being one of the more notable misses and non-factors on the defensive line.

In addition to the lack of a pass rush, the Eagles’ defense had countless missed tackles, which falls on the coordinator and player. There were too many times when Eagles defenders whiffed on tackles, leading to explosive plays in the passing game for the Buccaneers.

While the missed tackles were one of the biggest issues in Sunday’s 33-16 loss, Eagles fans were not pleased seeing Nolan Smith Jr. dropping back into coverage. They saw enough of that last season with Matt Patricia, who took over late for Desai.

Sirianni will take a lot of heat for how this team performed on Sunday and through the first four games, but Fangio needs to be in the conversation too.

After performing well in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints, the Eagles’ defense fell flat on its face by not tackling, lack of pressure, and playing too far off the line of scrimmage. Nonetheless, if things do not change after the bye week for the Eagles, fans will call for change in multiple places.

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