They say winning football games is hard. Uncle Dom says winning is winning. The Eagles sit at 2-0 and that’s all matters, but why does it feel this bad?
The answer is 2023. The Eagles scratched, gutted and clawed their way to a 10-1 record over some of the best teams in the NFL that season. Nearly every game was an uphill climb. The offense looked horrendous until it needed a clutch score, and then it would somehow produce. The defense would hang in there long enough hoping something from Jalen Hurts and the offense would eventually pop. It felt great to win, but deep down we knew there was something terminally wrong with the reigning NFC Champions. And. We. Were. Right.
The wheels fell off after the 49ers waltzed into Philadelphia and took the Eagles soul. The Eagles lost five of their final six before getting waxed in the opening round of the playoffs. The franchise tried everything; including firing both coordinators, but the death knell was imminent.
Is it way too early to compare a sluggish 2025 start to the disappointing 2023 campaign? Absolutely. Am I going to do it anyway? Absolutely.
Describing the offense as vanilla would be too kind. The offense is blah. There is no creativity. There is no aggressiveness. I’m sorry, but chucking the ball downfield on a prayer whenever there’s a blitz isn’t strategy. That’s just hope. Hope is not a strategy.
Jalen Hurts is in his 5th season as full time starter and he still won’t throw the football across the middle. I still can’t believe this is a real thing. Yes, it’s only been two weeks, but Philadelphia is currently 31st in passing yards despite having one of the top five receiving units in the NFL and a dominating offensive line and run game. Russell Wilson threw for over 450 yards in Week 2. Mac Jones nearly threw for 300. Daniel Jones won’t even let his poor punter on the field. Throwing the football in today’s NFL is NOT THIS DIFFICULT.
Even the running game has been sluggish to start because the defense knows the Eagles won’t push the ball downfield. Why did Howie Roseman let Nick Sirianni hire from within? I don’t care that he is now a Super Bowl champion. We’ve seen this movie play out already. It doesn’t work. Kellen Moore was an outside hire with fresh eyes and new ideas. The offense and Hurts desperately need that again.
I know Hurts won a Super Bowl. I am very grateful. Yet I can’t help but wonder how much fun this offense would be with someone like Baker Mayfield back there forcing the ball downfield. Yes, the turnovers would go up, but so would the points, and imagine Saquon Barkley running against a “lite” box.
I think the worst part is we’ve seen Hurts be that quarterback before. He did it in both Super Bowls. He did it in the NFC Championship against Washington. Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes aren’t just great because they won Super Bowls. They’re great because they’re great week in and week out. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson don’t have the rings but they push their respective offenses to greatness in September as much as they do in January.
Mr. Hurts,
You are allowed to perform at the highest level all season. We don’t need or want you to wait until winter.
Thanks,
Your friends in Philadelphia