See good football player, get good football player ball.
A football game is made up of four 15 minute quarters. The 2025 Philadelphia Eagle offense played four consecutive quarters of excellent football. Did those four quarters occur on the same Sunday? No, but the Eagles went 2-0 thanks to a dominating 2nd half against the Rams and an equally dominating 1st half against the Buccaneers. Now how do we get similar production on a more consistent basis? The answer is simple. I mean it; simple is the answer, as in keep it simple, stupid.
First and foremost the Eagles have to establish a running game. As you can see below, it’s been a slog through the first four weeks, especially when compared to last season:
Saquon Barkley through four games 2024: 73 carries, 435 yards, 5.9 YPC, 4 TD
Saquon Barkley through four games 2025: 77 carries, 237 yards, 3.1 YPC, 3 TD
Even worse, Barkley doesn’t have a rush (or reception for that matter) over 16 yards. Barkley’s big play ability had defenses in constant fear a year ago. Sure, defenses spent the offseason scheming to limit this offense, but that doesn’t mean answers don’t exist. Barkley needs space. He his met by a defender at the line of scrimmage on more than half his carries this season. Many point to his extensive workload last season as a reason for the drop off. I could see that if Barkley looked a step slow, but that is not the case at all, at least to my untrained eyes. The line, on the other hand, has been underachieving to this point. I find it hard to believe that Mekhi Becton was the lynchpin to such a dominant ground game in 2024. Becton was great, but 80% of the line returned, so getting only half the production from a year ago doesn’t math.
A consistent and aggressive passing attack would also do wonders for the ground game. AJ Brown should be targeted on a slant at least once a drive. No one in the NFL runs a better slant or has stronger hands. Dallas Goedert has 12 receptions on 13 targets this season. That means two things: 1. Goedert is open. 2. If you throw it to him, Goedert will produce.
Let’s take some more shots downfield, too. Jalen Hurts has some deficiencies as a quarterback, no doubt, but he throws a tremendous deep ball. Stretch the field. Give Barkley and the offensive line some breathing room. And with all due respect, Mr. Hurts, when you target Brown downfield, please keep the ball inbounds. Receptions made outside the white paint do not count. Thanks.
Let’s also run more offense out of empty. The Eagles have depth at receiver. Jahan Dotson has made some big plays since his arrival and still the Eagles only find him once every full moon. Attacking downhill is the easiest and most desirable style of defense, so maybe limit the opposition’s ability to do it? Empty puts too many weapons into play for the defense to attack the line of scrimmage.
Finally, and this has been mentioned a lot this week by many… let’s pull! Jason Kelce himself chose Cam Jurgens because he was fast and athletic enough to pull and get his big body up field. Jurgens isn’t made to stand up 300-pound defensive tackles. Get him in space as a lead blocker and give Barkley the oxygen to hit home runs.
Nothing is simple in the NFL. Even these suggestions won’t turn the offense around on a dime, but it’s undoubtedly better than running inside zone into a brick wall over and over and over again. Remember, football doesn’t have to be complicated. The Eagle offense has great players. Get the ball to those great players. Take the initiative to the defense and put them on their heels instead of letting them attack. Maybe we’ll get four quarters of great offense all in the same game.
Maybe.
*****
Thursday Night Pick; Rams -8.5