With each passing game, it's starting to become clearer and clearer why the Eagles used their first-round pick on Derek Barnett.
The rookie defensive end is beginning to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
"This guy is very disruptive, explosive," head coach Doug Pederson said. "He's another one of those unselfish guys. He just wants to win and do whatever he can to help the team win."
Barnett, the 14th overall pick in April's draft, had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Eagles' 37-9 win Sunday night over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
In addition to Barnett's two sacks (he forced a fumble on one), he also applied pressure and hit quarterback Dak Prescott on two of his three interceptions.
It seemed like Sunday was probably Barnett's best NFL game so far. The 21-year-old humbly didn't go along with that assessment.
"I think I did some good things, but I need to do a better job in the run game," Barnett said. "I didn't do that well in the run game. At the end of the day, we won. That's all that matters. We got a victory and let's all go back to Philly."
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After failing to record a sack in his first five NFL games, Barnett now has 4.5 in his last five games. He is second among all NFL rookies in sacks this season.
He's already eighth on the Eagles' rookie sack list and could move up that list quickly. Two more sacks would put him third behind just Reggie White (13) and Corey Simon (9.5).
Sacks sometimes come in bunches.
"I just think they're coming now," Pederson said. "I think he's getting comfortable in the role. He's developing. He's understanding the game. He studies tackles, he studies his opponent. He's developed a couple of different moves. It's just his willingness. It just clicks for any player. They start to come. I love where he's at right now too."
Even before the sacks started coming, Barnett was quietly getting pressure. Now, he's getting pressure and finishing the plays.
Barnett played 51 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps Sunday and is closing on the 50 percent mark on the season. While he hasn't been widely talked about as a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, he could make a case quickly if these numbers keep piling up.
More importantly, he could offer the Eagles a dangerous pass-rusher as they make their way down the stretch and into the playoffs.
And he's doing it with the same traits that made him attractive to the Eagles in the first place.
Remember just after he was drafted, when vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas raved about Barnett's "excellent" ankle flexion?
Well, check out Barnett's bend on his fourth-quarter strip sack:
He bent around the left tackle and came at Prescott horizontally.
He did it earlier in the game on the Rodney McLeod interception:
And remember how much everyone praised his high motor and compete level?
Check out his first-half sack. He willed his way to a sack and wouldn't let Prescott escape.
Sunday was Barnett's second career two-sack game; they came less than a month apart. And it looks like there are plenty more sacks in his future.
"They're starting to come in slowly but surely," Barnett said. "Everybody says to pass rush, you have to keep on rushing. You can't get down. You're going to be in your little slumps and stuff. You have to keep on grinding through it. It's eventually going to break."
