By John DeShazier | Senior Writer - NewOrleansSaints.com
There's no subterfuge here.
The New Orleans Saints (5-4) have the best run defense in the NFL – 72.9 yards per game allowed, including an iron-fisted 57 per game in the last three.
The Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) have the third-best rushing offense overall (144.3 yards per game) in the league and have been unchallenged in the category over the last three games, a stratospheric 208.7.
There are other bells and whistles to be attentive of for the Saints as they attempt to end a two-game losing streak Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia but begin there for New Orleans' keys to victory.
1. MINIMIZE THE HURTS: Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has run for a team-leading 547 yards and five touchdowns on 97 carries. True, Hurts also can do damage in the passing game (62.2 percent completions for 2,159 yards and 13 touchdowns, with five interceptions). But the Philly ground game begins with him, and his big-play ability in the passing game filters off that. Hurts isn't just mobile, he's an extra ballcarrier and he has to be accounted for as such. New Orleans has fast, active linebackers (Demario Davis, Kwon Alexander, Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss) and they're going to have to be disciplined in their approach, as will the defensive line. If Hurts can be kept in the pocket, the hurts can best be limited from there.
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