In the very first series of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, coordinator Jim Schwartz sent his defense onto the field and began an afternoon of designed mayhem intended to have the opposition swinging at ghosts and grasping at the shifting mists of their game plan.
Before the Broncos finished that series with a 52-yard field goal – it would be fair to say the lead didn’t last long – the Eagles had played their base defense of three linebackers, had shifted to nickel coverage with an extra defensive back, had put four linebackers on the field for a 4-4 front, had blitzed from both sides of the field with both linebackers and defensive backs, had nearly forced an interception, had hit quarterback Brock Osweiler twice and, generally speaking, had announced their presence.