Arizona Cardinals

Eagles defensive coordinator hopes late stops continue

Published Dec. 15, 2015 4:27 p.m. ET

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis watched Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins take his team 90 yards in the final minutes for a winning touchdown back in Week 4.

Two days later, Davis vowed that wouldn't happen again.

It hasn't happened 12 times. And Davis will get another look at Cousins in two weeks. His defense has made last-drive stops the past two weeks in similar situations as the Eagles won against the Patriots and Bills to move into a tie for first place in the NFC East.

''Those two-minute drives at the end of the half and games really tell you a lot about who you are, especially your pass defense and pass rush,'' Davis said Tuesday as he prepared his defense to face the high-powered Arizona Cardinals.

''We've had two weeks in a row where we really had to step up in the end to make the play, to get the right pass rush and to have our leverage,'' Davis said. ''The guys two weeks in a row - hopefully that keeps building as we roll into the end of December.''

Against New England, the Patriots got the ball at their own 25, with 1:02 left. The Pats got one first down to the 37, but four straight Brady incompletions ended the drive and the game.

Against Buffalo, the Bills got the ball at the 31 with 1:49 to play. A running play gained 7 yards on first down but Eagles safety Ed Reynolds intercepted a pass to seal the win.

Reynolds, who was on the practice squad when Philadelphia last played Washington, is now the team's deep safety in the nickel package. Malcolm Jenkins has moved into the slot.

Davis and Jenkins both feel that makes a difference.

''I'm more productive when I'm in the slot,'' Jenkins said after practice on Tuesday. ''It gets me more involved in the run game, too. I'm up closer to the line, but I can still match up with the guy in the slot. I think it gives us more versatility.''

Arizona's slot receiver will be Larry Fitzgerald.

''He's the best I'll face this year,'' Jenkins said.

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