PHILADELPHIA — It’s Week 3, and the Eagles’ defense has already reached a crucial moment in the season.

The jarring end to Monday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons — with Kirk Cousins facing little resistance as he led a game-winning 70-yard drive that took all of 65 seconds — was the capper to a night that exposed the unit’s flaws in front of a national audience of more than 15 million.

The defense is getting gashed on the ground, giving up a stunning 6.4 yards per rush, which is worst in the league. The Eagles are 30th in pressure percentage (24%), in large part because they haven’t been able to get production out of one of their marquee free agent signings, edge rusher Bryce Huff. And they have generated only one takeaway, which is tied for the second fewest in the league.

And now here come the New Orleans Saints. This didn’t look like an offensive juggernaut on paper heading into the season, but the operation has been humming under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The Saints have scored 91 points through two games, including 44 against a respectable Dallas defense in the Cowboys’ home opener.

Sunday’s matchup in New Orleans (1 p.m. ET, Fox) could serve as a confidence-infusing springboard. Or it could deepen doubts in a group led by new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio that to this point hasn’t fully coalesced.

“For us, we just want to do our job, that’s the biggest thing that I’m taking away from this game [against Atlanta],” veteran defensive end Brandon Graham said. “We’ve got to make sure we trust the other guy is going to be where they’re supposed to be.”

The part of the unit arguably most out of sync is the defensive front. Tackle Milton Williams is the lone defensive lineman to have registered a sack. The edge rushers have a total of two QB hits, both from Josh Sweat.

“We’re not on the same page, man,” Sweat told reporters after the game. “We’re just not rushing together.”

Huff has been an early focal point of fan frustration. The front office signed him to a three-year, $51 million deal to help offset the eventual departure of Haason Reddick. He has generated zero pressures on 28 pass rushes and has only one tackle.

“I need to find myself in the scheme at the end of the day,” Huff told reporters postgame. “I need to talk to my coaches to see where I can improve and continue to get better.”

Huff is not just learning a new system but is transitioning from being a pass-rush specialist with the New York Jets to a three-down player. He is clearly going through growing pains as a run defender. Fangio acknowledged Huff was still “learning how to play the total game” but said he was “working hard” and would remain the starter.

It has also been a slow start relative to expectations for defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who leads the team in pressures (5) but has yet to get a sack. Fangio confirmed Carter did not start Monday night as a disciplinary measure. Carter said he overslept and was late for a team meeting.

“He had the hiccups last week during the week which caused that,” Fangio said, “but overall [he’s doing what we’re looking for]. But like a lot of us, starting with the coaches, he can do better.”

The most consistent rusher has been the 36-year-old Graham. He is tops on the team with a pressure rate of 11.5%, via NFL Next Gen Stats. It’s a testament to Graham but also a reflection on the state of affairs that a player in his 15th and final NFL season is leading the charge.

As Fangio pointed out, the root of the problem in the pass rush is tied to the team’s inability to slow down the run. It’s much easier to attack in obvious passing downs. Teams such as Atlanta and New Orleans make it even tougher in short-yardage situations because of their strong running games and the play-action they build from it. On Sunday, Philadelphia will face running back Alvin Kamara, who posted 180 total yards and four touchdowns against Dallas.

“He’s nice with it, man. One of the best backs with the best balance I’ve seen in a long time,” cornerback Darius Slay Jr. said. “He jumped over me one time when I was in Detroit his rookie year. He literally cleared me. Kamara, I know you’re watching this probably. Don’t jump over me no more like that. I’m going to press charges.”

There was seismic change in the Eagles’ defensive personnel this offseason with stalwart tackle Fletcher Cox retiring and Reddick being traded to the Jets amid a contract stalemate. It’s clear the new group is still in the feeling-out process both with one another and Fangio’s scheme. There have been positives despite this, including the play of rookie corner Quinyon Mitchell and the team’s red zone performance (its opponent touchdown rate of 29% is tied for fifth best).

There is still time to smooth out the wrinkles. But right now, the overall results are eerily similar to last season. The Eagles are 28th in defensive efficiency, 31st in yards per play allowed and 30th in pressure percentage; last season they ranked 29th in defensive efficiency, 24th in opponent yards per play and 30th in pressure.

The deficiencies on defense helped torpedo a promising season in 2023. A strong performance against New Orleans could help ease concerns this iteration of the Eagles is headed for a similar fate.

“We just want to make sure we’re on the same page. … Just building that chemistry with new guys coming in on top of the guys that you know,” Graham said.

“I’m loving that everybody is open to hearing the criticism, taking it well, because normally us as grown men, sometimes ego gets in the way or everybody thinks they’re attacking you, but it’s not that, it’s just ‘I need you.

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