THE LAST TIME the Eagles' defense finished the season ranked in the top five in the NFL was 2008, when it ranked third in yardage (the official benchmark) and fourth in points per game, a measuring stick that would seem to be a bit more important.
Two other things also happened that season: The Eagles experienced their most recent postseason success, beating both the Vikings and the Giants en route to an NFC Championship Game loss to the Cardinals; and during their playoff run, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson fell ill with what eventually was diagnosed as inoperable cancer.