The Talent Is There, But Problems Persist
In the city of Philadelphia, the talent is undeniable, and the Philadelphia Eagles are acutely aware of this. They have brought back nearly the same roster that stormed to a Super Bowl victory last season, with 10 of 11 starters from the No. 8 offense in the league. However, the results have been far from ideal. The Eagles are scoring five fewer points per game, and their offense has plummeted to 24th in the league, averaging about 60 fewer yards. Jalen Hurts’ passing numbers have slightly improved, but he’s on pace to run for nearly 200 fewer yards. Saquon Barkley, a key player, is on track to rush for 1,000 fewer yards compared to last season, even if he plays one more game. Despite the Eagles spending more on the offensive side of the ball than any other team, the results are lagging, and the frustration is palpable.
A Sense of Foreboding and Déjà Vu
While the Eagles are not in a panic yet—especially with an 8-4 record and a lead in the NFC East—the atmosphere within the franchise is tense. There is a growing sense of foreboding, a fear that if they can’t diagnose and fix their offensive woes, this promising season could end in disaster. The déjà vu is uncanny, reminiscent of 2023 when the Eagles were 10-1 but felt something was off, only to lose six of their last seven games. That year, the defense was the main issue, leading to the benching of the defensive coordinator. This time, the problems lie with the offense, and head coach Nick Sirianni is standing by his first-year offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, despite fan discontent.
The Struggles of the Run Game
The running game, once a cornerstone of the Eagles’ success, has become a source of frustration. Last year, with Barkley’s 2,005-yard season, the Eagles were second in the NFL with 179.3 rushing yards per game, running the ball on 55.8% of their plays. This season, they are averaging just 108.5 yards per game and running the ball only 47% of the time. Barkley’s effectiveness has dropped, averaging 2.1 fewer yards per carry and just 2.3 yards before contact, down from 3.8 last year. Players argue that more commitment to running plays is needed to get the run game into a rhythm, but it feels like the offense abandons the run too early. Barkley had just 26 carries during their two straight losses to the Bears and the Cowboys, and 18 during a two-game losing streak in October.
Dwindling Chemistry and Key Lapses
The passing game, while productive in some areas, is not without its issues. Hurts is on pace to throw for 3,561 yards and a career-high 27 touchdown passes, with only two interceptions. However, there are frequent lapses, and the chemistry between Hurts and top receiver A.J. Brown seemed strained much of the season. Brown’s numbers have improved recently, but the passing game often breaks down in key spots. For example, Hurts and DeVonta Smith’s miscommunication on a third-and-8 play against the Bears should have resulted in a touchdown but failed. The Eagles also harm themselves with penalties, committing 91 through 12 games, the fifth-highest total in the league, including 49 on offense. These issues have collectively derailed their progress.
The Pressing Need for Solutions
The Eagles’ players are united in their acknowledgment that the problems are multifaceted and require a collective effort to solve. It’s not just one person but a combination of issues—missing blocks, incorrect routes, and poor protection—that are hurting the team. The defense, which has helped the Eagles win games, has also struggled recently, giving up 898 yards over the past two weeks, including a staggering 281 yards on the ground against the Bears. The challenge for Sirianni and his staff is to identify and address these issues before time runs out. The team is still committed and believes they have the talent and coaches to turn things around, but the clock is ticking.
Can the Eagles Recover?
The Eagles are determined to find solutions and avoid a repeat of the 2023 collapse. They believe they have the time and talent to overcome their current struggles, but the sense of urgency is real. The question remains: Will Sirianni need to make drastic changes, such as demoting Patullo or taking away his playcalling duties, or will the veteran players on offense figure it out themselves? The players are committed to putting in the work and staying united. As Hurts put it, “It’s not ideal, but it’s a matter of picking ourselves up and continuing to press forward.” The Eagles are 8-4, and the sky is still above them, but it feels like it’s already on its way down.
