There are few defenses in football as layered, interconnected, and talent-rich as Philadelphia's.
They win by suffocating teams with depth, versatility, and waves of pressure from all three levels, yet amid all that firepower, the Week 11 win over the Detroit Lions offered something different -- a spotlight performance from a player finally beginning to carve out his place.
Nakobe Dean, in just his third game on the field this season, was everywhere for the Eagles.
Dean has been stellar for the Eagles in his return to the field
A player that has long been discussed for years as the ultimate tweener -- brilliant at Georgia, a former third-round pick with elite instincts and explosive downhill ability, but too small to consistently handle tight ends, or too stiff to survive isolated coverage reps against twitchy backs.