PHILADELPHIA — Let’s start with some positive updates from Philadelphia. The Eagles are on a roll with a nine-game winning streak, Saquon Barkley is making a strong push for the NFL’s single-season rushing record, and the team has secured a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive year under the leadership of Coach Nick Sirianni.
However, amidst the optimism, there are lingering concerns. It appears that even in these successful times, some Eagles players are voicing their frustrations about the performance of the passing game. After their recent victory over the Panthers, wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, along with quarterback Jalen Hurts, openly expressed their dissatisfaction with their lack of involvement in the offense. They feel it is crucial to better utilize their talents as they head into the playoffs.
Coach Sirianni acknowledged the issues, admitting that there are valid criticisms regarding the offensive output, which saw Smith and Brown combining for only eight receptions and 80 yards during the game.
The primary concern, as highlighted by Smith, is the team’s disconnection on the field. Despite Smith’s impressive back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, he has yet to surpass the century mark in a single game this year. Brown, who had a strong 2022 season with multiple 100-yard games, has also seen his statistics dip.
In the Panthers game, Hurts managed only 108 passing yards, along with two touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown. This raises the question of whether the Eagles (now 11-2) should be worried about their offense struggling this late in the season.
Hurts responded to this concern by asserting that he does not believe it’s a problem. There are several factors contributing to the team’s decreased passing numbers this season.
For one, the Eagles have shifted their strategy to focus more on Barkley and his impressive 1,623 rushing yards this season. Hurts has also been part of the issue, sometimes taking too long to release the ball and failing to capitalize on opportunities to connect with open receivers, including missed chances to pass to Brown.
To further address their performance, Hurts emphasized the need for the team to synchronize better, noting the importance of playing cohesively.
While Hurts has only surpassed 300 passing yards once this season, he has shown efficiency during the winning streak, recording only one interception throughout that stretch.
The concerns for the Eagles start with slow starts; they have yet to score a touchdown on their opening drive in the first 13 games and average just 10.7 points in the first half. Against the Panthers, they only managed 46 total yards in the opening quarter. These sluggish beginnings have allowed teams with losing records, such as Carolina and Jacksonville, to stay competitive in games.
On a brighter note, the running game has been a strong suit for the Eagles, primarily thanks to Barkley. He rushed for 124 yards in their recent game, setting a new team record for the season, and has his sights set on breaking the NFL’s all-time single-season rushing record.
Barkley has achieved his impressive stats over just 13 games, surpassing LeSean McCoy’s record from 2013. At his current average of 124.8 yards per game, he is on pace to dethrone Eric Dickerson’s long-standing record of 2,105 yards. To achieve this, he needs to gain 483 yards in the remaining four games of the season.
In terms of player performances, linebackers Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean stood out defensively against Carolina, with Dean leading the team with 12 tackles and Baun contributing with a sack and 11 tackles.
Conversely, kicker Jake Elliott has struggled, missing a 52-yard field goal attempt and failing to convert any of his five kicks from beyond 50 yards this season.
On the injury front, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was assessed for a concussion and received treatment for another injury but did make a game-changing interception in the fourth quarter.
As for significant milestones, the Eagles have won nine consecutive games only three times previously, during the 1960, 2003, and 2017 seasons. Looking ahead, the team is set to host their cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in what many see as a potential preview of an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl showdown.
