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Biggest surprises for Eagles so far

There was concern about the Eagles' secondary entering the season, but the group held its own through the first nine games.

Eagles cornerback Patrick Robinson chases Denver’s Demaryius Thomas.
Eagles cornerback Patrick Robinson chases Denver’s Demaryius Thomas.Read moreMATT ROURKE

As the Dallas game looms, here are the biggest surprises of the Eagles season so far:

1. Overcoming injuries. If you made a list of the Eagles' most indispensable players before the season, it would include Jason Peters, Darren Sproles, and Jordan Hicks high on the list. All three have been lost for the season, yet the Eagles keep winning. Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, Rodney McLeod, Zach Ertz, and Ronald Darby have all missed games, too. The "next man up" philosophy can become a cliché in the NFL, but it's working for the Eagles this season.

2Solid cornerback play. There was concern about the Eagles' secondary entering the season, but the group held their own through the first nine games – and it's happened without top cornerback Ronald Darby. The biggest surprise has been veteran Patrick Robinson, who looked like he might not even make the team during training camp. Robinson's since become one of the most valuable players on defense, manning the slot for the Eagles. Jalen Mills has also developed into a reliable starting cornerback in his second season.

3. Road success. The Eagles struggled winning away from home in Doug Pederson's first season, dropping their last seven games away from Lincoln Financial Field. They are 3-1 on the road this season, navigating a difficult stretch that included three of their first four games on the road. They will be tested in the upcoming weeks with three of their next four games on the road – all against teams with a winning record.