Monday night, Big Play Slay earned his moniker.
In the Philadelphia Eagles’ 24-7 thrashing of the Minnesota Vikings, cornerback Darius Slay intercepted pass after pass.
Slay was credited with five passes defensed and two interceptions, both of which came in the red zone. He became the only player in the last three seasons with five or more passes defensed and two interceptions.
The 31-year-old reminded everyone that he is still one of the best cover corners in the NFL.
“You know how it always goes — the older you get, the more they think you’re falling off. But I ain’t one of them guys. I’m still at an elite level. I deserve a lot of respect in this league,” Slay said, via the official transcript.
After posting a 9/184/2 line against Green Bay the previous week, Justin Jefferson was restricted to only 48 yards on six catches with Slay’s assistance. According to Next Gen Stats, Slay lined up against Jefferson on 36.2% of Jefferson’s routes (most by any Eagles defender in the game).
“I take no matchup lightly, but he is one of the best in the world,” Slay said of Jefferson. “I am one of the best in the world, too. I was looking forward to the matchup.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Slay faced six targets in main coverage against Jefferson and gave up one reception for seven yards while registering two interceptions and two dropped interceptions.
Slay recorded his third game with a 90-plus coverage grade since joining the Eagles in 2020 with a 90.2 PFF coverage grade in this contest. Since 2020, no other Philly CB has experienced any similar contests.
Nick Sirianni, the Eagles’ head coach, remarked that Slay’s capacity to match wits with top receivers like Jefferson enables the Philadelphia defence to employ a variety of tactics.
“You don’t just go in and put all your eggs in one basket, right?” the coach said. “There were different disguises, different coverages, but make no mistake about it, a lot of it was to stop No. 18. He’s a heck of a football player.
But Slay definitely did an amazing job when he had to cover him one-on-one. You can’t help and there is no assistance when you bring all those men on Slay’s second interception—really on the one before that, too, right, that may have been an interception.
“Slay made an interception while you were in cover 0 due to sticky coverage. Thus, that is what Slay consistently does.”
For the first time since Week 5 of 2019, the Eagles produced three takeaways against Minnesota and allowed fewer than three big plays (completions of 20 yards or runs of 10 yards or more).
Slay’s Eagles are one of the favourites in the NFC with the offence blazing to start the season and the defence capable of putting up performances like Monday.
