Eagles struggling to stop ground game

The sudden emergence of RB Rudi Johnson has essentially sealed Corey Dillon's fate in Cincinnati.

Updated: November 24, 2003, 3:44 PM ET
By By Darrell Trimble | NFL Insider
  • The Philadelphia Eagles have won eight of their last nine games and are back in the race for home-field advantage, but there is one major concern that once again reared its ugly head Sunday. The Eagles run D has fallen apart worse than a sloppy Philly cheese steak.

    McAllister
    McAllister
    Deuce McAllister ran roughshod over the Eagles to the tune of 184 yards. That number is significant in itself. But when you realize he amassed all those yards on only 19 carries, you can't help but wonder what happened to the run defense that the team displayed in its first five games.

    During that time, the Eagles gave up only 341 yards on 130 carries with an average of 2.6 yards per carry. But in the last six games, the front seven has been noticeably more generous. Starting with the Giants in mid-October, Philadelphia's defense has surrendered 985 yards on the ground on only 178 carries with an average of 5.5 yards per carry.


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