Much has been made this season, and deservedly so, of the improvement by the Eagles’ offense on third down.
But their defense also has been doing an impressive job of getting off the field on third down during the team’s 7-1 start.
Jim Schwartz’s unit went into Sunday’s game against the winless 49ers ranked third in the league in third-down defense, behind only Denver and Minnesota.
It turned in another impressive third-down performance in the Birds’ water-logged 33-10 win at the Linc, allowing the Niners and their rookie quarterback, C.J. Beathard, to convert just three of 15 third-down opportunities.