Defensive tackles use the ‘next man up’ mentality
“It is the next man up mentality.”
That is how Jordan Davis classified the performance of the team’s young corps of defensive tackles.
Coming into the game, the group was already without Milton Williams, who has been an integral part in the success of the Eagles’ run defense playing the second-most snaps at defensive tackle entering Sunday’s game.
“Milton is really a big part of our defense,” said Eagles cornerback Darius Slay. “Milton is dawging. He is one of our best defensive tackles in the run game.”
To make matters worse, veteran tackle Fletcher Cox went down with a groin injury in the second quarter. He tried testing it out to start the third quarter but could not continue.
The defensive tackle group was left with second-year starter Davis, third-year pro Marlon Tuipulotu, and two rookies – Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo.
“It is not just Jalen and I; it is everybody down the line. It is Marlon and Moro,” Davis said. “It all comes together, that is what we practice and what we preach.”
Everyone contributed to the overtime victory, but it was the two first-rounders, Carter and Davis, who made the biggest plays.
With 1:27 left in the first half, Bills kicker Tyler Bass was on for a 34-yard field goal attempt that would have given his team a six-point lead. However, Carter’s left hand had other ideas.
The ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft used all of his 6-foot-3 frame to leap the highest and get a few fingers on the ball.
“I felt it hit my hand, but I did not know where the ball went,” Carter said. “I turned around and saw it went to the left.”
Then, in overtime, it was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft who made a game-saving play.
With the Bills just outside of the red zone, and looking to win the game with a touchdown, the 336-pound Davis ran down Bills quarterback Josh Allen, tackling him out of bounds as he scrambled for a minimum gain of 4 yards.
“It was the situation, we had to figure out a way to win,” Davis said. “When I saw him run, I was like, ‘It is now or never.’ We just had to get him down, by any means necessary.”
On the next play, Allen’s pass to wide receiver Gabe Davis fell short, forcing the Bills to settle for three points on the opening drive of overtime. The Eagles never gave the ball back as quarterback Jalen Hurts rushed for a game-winning touchdown. – Written by…
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