NFL

How can Ndamukong Suh help the Eagles in the playoffs?

After a stellar outing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, it has been something of a surprise that Ndamukong Suh remained unsigned in 2022. Until now.

Mike EhrmannAFP

The Eagles may not be undefeated anymore, but they are still the team going into the back third of the NFL season with the most to gain, and the most to lose.

Their loss to the Washington Commanders revealed a gap to be filled in the Eagles defense, namely closing down the short run on. Now they have come up with a stunning coup, signing Ndamukong Suh to a one-year deal.

The 35 year-old defensive tackle was outstanding last season for Tampa, notching up six sacks and 24 hurries, proving that he still has plenty left in the tank.

The Commanders were not the only team to make hay on the Eagles bendy D-line, they were simply the first to manage a win out of it. In the last three games, Philly’s opponents have rushed for a jaw-dropping 464 yards.

The fact that a player of Suh’s quality was still available in Week 11 is astounding in itself, but the fact that he is now going to Philadelphia makes the Eagles surely the strongest team on both sides of the ball anywhere in the league.

Kudos to Ndamukong for holding his nerve. Suh knew that many teams coveted him, but unable to reach a deal with any of them, a lesser player, or perhaps it is better to say a player with less experience, would have signed with someone for less than their worth.

The five-time All-Pro was adamant that he would play this season and he waited until a worthy suitor came courting his hand.

A one-man wrecking crew, Suh lends a physicality to the Eagles defense that should pay dividends in the back end of this season, particularly as he is coming in to a lineup that has been battered in full health, just at a time in the season when such things begin to wear opponents down.

With the playoffs coming into view on the horizon the Eagles may be the team in pole position, and now with Ndomukong Suh pushing offensive linemen around, they have shown their desire to keep it so. And who knows? There might just be one more ring in it for Suh after all.

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