Category: Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Offense is Having an Identity Crisis

Eagles’ offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and head coach Nick Sirianni on the sidelines at a home game. Photo credit: Getty Images

The Philadelphia Eagles are the most frustrating team in the NFL to watch right now.

The only team that seemingly can beat the Eagles is the Eagles themselves, and after four weeks of winning in unorthodox ways, they are now doing just that. In Week 5 against the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia was shut out in the second half and blew a 14-point lead within less than six minutes of the fourth quarter.

But even with the Eagles finally getting burned, absolutely nobody was prepared for what happened at MetLife Stadium on Thursday Night Football.

Despite escaping the jaws of defeat four times before and narrowly losing to the Broncos, they were absolutely steamrolled by the New York Giants with the entire nation watching.

Think about that for a second: The New York Giants STEAMROLLED the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Birds are 29th in yards per game with 274.5 and dead last in three-and-outs with a whopping 47 percent of their drives. They are also 4-2 and atop the NFC East. This alone almost perfectly encapsulates their season so far.

This team retained ten of eleven starters from last year’s Super Bowl team, but they haven’t even remotely resembled that offense. The seeming inconsistency in philosophy is what should be, and is sounding alarms around the city.

Six weeks into the season, teams shouldn’t be expected to have truly found themselves yet. However, they should at least have a direction, and this offense even lacks that.

This poses the big question: What in the world has happened to their identity?

Bad play calling loses games

It’s time to start finding Kevin Patullo responsible for the offensive struggles.

The criticisms surrounding his name, whether fair or unfair to the first-year offensive coordinator, are valid. Play calling is the biggest issue with this offense.

Philadelphia’s offense looked pretty good at first. The 31st-ranked passing game finally seemed to come alive in the first half as Jalen Hurts had over 200 passing yards in a half for the first time since 2023. A touchdown drive in the third quarter gave the Eagles a comfortable 14-point lead.

Patullo found a way to blow it.

The Eagles ran 24 offensive plays in the second half, and 23 of them were pass plays. Saquon Barkley, the running back who just set the record for most rushing yards in a single season, had just six carries for 30 yards in the entirety of the game and one singular carry in the second half.

Instead of sticking to the former identity of the Eagles’ offense and running the ball, Patullo called pass plays. That is not an execution issue – It’s a clear playcalling issue.

The best offensive coordinators don’t call plays. They call the game. They know how to get the offense into a flow, keep it flowing, and change things up when the flow gets disrupted. Patullo has not done any of these things thus far.

Patullo’s issues start at the top

While Patullo should be held accountable for his deficiencies, he can’t get 100 percent of the blame because he’s a rookie, and the guy who chose him to lead this unit is an offensive mind himself.

The Eagles have had four different offensive coordinators in the last four seasons. They constantly have leadership changes on this side of the ball, but Nick Sirianni is the one constant in all of them.

Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore controlled the offenses in 2022 and 2024, respectively. They were experienced coordinators and led highly efficient offenses that were at the top of the league in scoring and yards, and the bottom of the league in turnovers and three-and-outs.

Brian Johnson took charge of the offense in 2023. It was his first time as a coordinator, and he led a less efficient offense. They were at the bottom of the league in turnovers despite being seventh in scoring.

The difference between the 2023 Eagles and the other two could be that he couldn’t supply the guidance and assistance necessary for a first-time coordinator to be positioned for success. It sure seemed that way back then, and it appears to be the case right now.

It also should be noted that Sirianni gave up playcalling duties after a 2-5 start to the 2021 season, and after Steichen began calling plays, they won seven of their last ten games and clinched a playoff berth. He completely relinquished control over the offense the next season, and three OCs later, he still hasn’t taken it back.

He’s got plenty of time to get Patullo and this once great offense back in shape, but history tells us that’s not a likely scenario. Every game without an experienced offensive coordinator makes it clearer why he let go of offensive control.

The trenches aren’t what they used to be

Remember the days of Barkley breaking off big runs untouched multiple times a game? How about Hurts having so much time in the pocket that he had a whopping ten seconds to throw in a wild card playoff game?

Cherish them, Eagles fans. Because those days are OVER.

For the first time in Hurts’ career, the offensive line has significant issues, and it starts with the injuries.

All-pro left guard Landon Dickerson is still dealing with the meniscus injury he suffered in training camp, as well as an ankle injury he picked up in Week 5.

Dickerson specifically has been a huge problem for this team, as he is the faithful protector of Hurts’ blindside and the main lead blocker for run plays. But he has not been alone on the injury report. Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens have also dealt with stinger injuries to their backs, and the latter’s required surgery.

The right guard position has also been problematic on this line. When Mekhi Becton left for Los Angeles, they assumed they had the next man up in Tyler Steen. But Steen has struggled with injury problems of his own, and he hasn’t quite filled the shoes of his predecessor even when he’s played.

Does the playcalling and lack of a sufficient passing game also contribute to the offensive line’s performance? Of course it does. Becton’s departure, the loss of some depth and the injuries all play a role in the line’s struggles.

But the simple fact is this is not the same historic O-line from last year. This is a massive problem for a team whose identity was historically based in the trenches.

Wait, isn’t winning the Eagles’ true identity?

Technically, it is, for now. But ultimately, it is until it isn’t.

Winning is never truly a part of a team’s identity. Consistent winning is not guaranteed in the NFL, even if you’ve won 20 straight games like Hurts’ Eagles. It might be in the identity of Philly’s core pieces, but the reality is that teams change a lot year-to-year.

The 2025 Eagles do not get to leach off the 2024 Eagles’ reputation of greatness. Last year, they knew exactly who they were and what they needed to do to dominate games in every aspect.

If the current Eagles want that greatness, they’re gonna have to earn it. They can start by showing that this offense understands what they need to do week-to-week to give them the best chance at winning.

Getting back to their old ways might be the solution, but without trench dominance, it could possibly be time for the Eagles to search for a new identity. That is for Patullo and Sirianni to figure out.

Until then, this offense ought to get comfortable at the bottom of the league. Because the Eagles’ offensive identity crisis is currently in full effect, and it will continue without significant change.

How Good Should the Eagles Really Feel About Their 4-0 Start?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 21: Jordan Davis #90 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after returning a blocked field goal in the final moments of the game for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on September 21, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The year is 2025. September NFL football is complete. And, in a stunning turn of events for the city of Philadelphia, the Eagles are 4-0!

Just kidding. Of course, they’re winning.

At this point, Nick Sirianni’s Eagles winning football games has become a near guarantee. Including the playoffs, they’re 18-0 in their last 18 games when Jalen Hurts finishes and 49-14 overall since 2022.

But despite their 4-0 start, the Eagles have had their fair share of struggles as well.

If the off-season wasn’t enough to convince fans before, these first four games have made it very clear that this is not the same team as last year. From significant roster turnover to a new offensive coordinator, Philadelphia has gone through a lot of changes since it won the Super Bowl in February, and the results of the first four games are showing that.

With the second quarter of the season now beginning, it is time to get real about the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles’ Offense

Let’s just get the main topic of discussion of the way right now: The Eagles’ offense has been the only unit of this football team that is somewhat concerning, and the more they play, the more concerning it gets.

A few positive things can be said about this offense right now, but nothing more than that. They are eighth in the league on third down, converting 41.8 percent of them, and 5-of-7 on fourth down on the year.

Hurts has been excellent in key moments throughout these games. From converting first downs and touchdowns by scrambling, or making key throws to A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Jahan Dotson, he has made an abundance of plays in the most important moments, especially in the Los Angeles Rams game.

They have been good enough situationally to win football games. Although their objective every week is to play good enough to win, what they don’t want is to be is ” just good enough.” Right now, that’s exactly what they are.

For a championship team that has consistently put out one of the most high-powered offenses over the years, this offense has been boring, basic, inefficient, wildly inconsistent, and borderline unwatchable.

The December 2023 collapse is the only other time in the last three years that those words could be used to describe the Eagles’ offense. Right now, they resemble that team in some ways as well.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was promoted from his passing game coordinator role to take control of the offense for the first team, and so far, it has been a rough transition from Kellen Moore.

The passing game has been almost nonexistent, and the film shows it’s not all on Hurts. The passing concepts look barebones.

Brown and Smith have run simplistic, repetitive routes that have become easy to predict and guard in zone coverage. The lack of production in the passing game has allowed teams to sell out on Saquon Barkley more and more every week. It is very concerning that a top-five receiver like Brown has only one game with more than 27 receiving yards this far into the season.

The offensive line has struggled more than usual as well. Albeit, Landon Dickerson’s injury is clearly having a major impact on his play, and this line overall is not quite as deep or talented as it was in 2024. They have struggled to open up running lanes for Barkley, and the pocket has collapsed in pass protection far too often for a historic unit.

There is too much talent being wasted in Patullo and Sirianni’s offense, and it’s going to cost them at some point.

Following the win at Tampa Bay, Brown posted a now-deleted tweet of a Bible verse that read, “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

Key players are starting to get frustrated and impatient with their lack of production and involvement. They know that they are not playing at a championship level, and that is a major issue for a team that holds itself to a championship standard.

So, the 2025 Eagles may be 4-0 right now, but if they don’t figure out how to get the playmakers involved, this offense will eventually cost them games.

Eagles’ Defense

Vic Fangio might just be the greatest thing to happen to Philadelphia since Rocky movies.

Despite the loss of many key players from 2024, the Eagles’ defense has been impressive through these first four games of 2025. Although the stats don’t look great with the Eagles being ranked 16th in points allowed per game and 21st in yards allowed per game, they have made outstanding plays in pretty much every single key moment.

When the offense stalled out in the second half of Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, the defense rose up and pitched a second-half shutout.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs were about to score and take the lead late in their Week 2 matchup, but they turned a potential nail in the coffin into a 14-point swing with an interception in the end zone.

Against the Rams, Philly overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half because the defense made plays. They forced turnovers that led to a touchdown in the first half, and then forced three-and-out after three-and-out to give the offense the chance to correct their putrid first-half play.

The Eagles’ defense seems to have picked up right where they left off last season. If the offense didn’t put them in many tough positions, their numbers would match the tape.

Zack Baun and the linebacker corps have been outstanding. Baun is proving that his leap from ordinary special teamer to first-team all-pro inside linebacker was not a fluke. Jihaad Campbell has played so excellently filling in for Nakobe Dean that he might have a chance to take the job from Dean.

Quinyon Mitchell is well on his way to an all-pro season at the corner position. He has gone up against some of the league’s best receivers this year, such as CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka, and none of them have been able to produce while being guarded by Mitchell.

The safety position group has exceeded expectations. Rookie Andrew Mukuba has done well taking over for C.J. Gardner-Johnson and has made some good plays, including the pick that turned the Chiefs’ game around.

Unfortunately for them, however, unlike last season, this defense does have a few flaws.

The outside cornerback situation opposite of Mitchell is an issue. With all due respect to the nine-year veteran, Adoree’ Jackson is not the answer, and this will likely continue to be the biggest hole on the roster. Jakorian Bennett or Kelee Ringo are also options and have seen playing time, but one of them will have to elevate their game, or this will continue to be an issue.

The defensive line has also been through its ups and downs, and this was expected to a certain degree, since the d-line suffered the most losses in free agency. Production from the edge has been lacking, and Nolan Smith being on injured reserve doesn’t help. Za’Darius Smith signed with Philly after Week 1, and he has made some solid contributions, but Fangio is going to need more from that position group.

The interior line has been outstanding despite the edge struggles. Jordan Davis is having a monster season in his contract year, and he seems to have finally taken his game to that next level that the Eagles have been hoping for since they drafted him 13th overall in 2022.

Jalen Carter has been the same beast that he’s always been, although some of his antics definitely caused the team issues. His Week 1 ejection for spitting on Dak Prescott and other unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are unacceptable, and even though he is a top defender in the NFL, he needs to clean those up so that he does not become more trouble than he’s worth.

Overall, there are no major concerns for the Eagles’ defense. This young unit will get better as the season progresses and will continue to be one of the best in the league.

The Big Picture

The 2025 Eagles have not been perfect. Yet, they are one of two teams in the NFL that are 4-0.

The truth is, they have been impressive in September, even with their struggles.

In the context of preseason expectations, the Eagles had one of the hardest schedules in the first four games. They had to play their division rival, the Cowboys, Super Bowl rival, the Chiefs, a Rams team that is a top NFC contender and was the closest to beating the Eagles in the playoffs, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who beat them badly in consecutive years prior. They managed to beat all of them.

Beyond who they played, what makes them truly impressive is how they have won. They have won in many different ways. Special teams contributed huge plays, blocking those two field goals, saving the Rams game, but that was after they scored 20 unanswered to even get in that position.

In just these first four games, they won two close back-and-forth games, a 20-point comeback, and a game that was effectively over by halftime.

The Philadelphia Eagles always win games, no matter what it takes or what it looks like. It’s not always pretty, and they definitely have some work to do if they want to repeat as Super Bowl champions. They should not feel good with their performances thus far because the standard in Philly is excellence.

Eagles fans, however, should feel good. Winning is in the Eagles’ DNA, and no matter what, they always find a way to win. The Hurts/Sirianni era has been successful like no other duo in NFL history over their first four seasons, and it’s continuing now.

The Eagles still have some time to work out their issues. For now, the Eagles are undefeated, and winning ultimately is “the main thing” in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Eagles Have a Nick Sirianni Problem

Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni. Photo Credit: AP

PHILADELPHIA – Save yourself from heartbreak while you still can, Philly fans: Nicholas John Sirianni is an abomination of a football coach, and the Eagles’ Super Bowl window will continue to close as long as they keep allowing this man to be in command.

Now, I know you might be thinking, “How can you possibly say that when a 2nd-year Sirianni led the Eagles to the Super Bowl 2 years ago?”

The answer to that question comes down to two main reasons: He was never that important to the Eagles’ success, and he was never the right person to pair up with quarterback Jalen Hurts.

When Sirianni was hired on January 21, 2021, owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman were clearly impressed with the vision that Sirianni brought to the table. After all, he was inheriting an offense and a quarterback that had been completely broken in the horrendous 2020 season; any coach taking that job would need an extensive plan to restore the team and culture.

Here’s the problem: This vision was based on the idea that Carson Wentz would be the quarterback of the future. When Wentz was traded to Indianapolis on February 18, 2021, this vision was killed.

Wentz and Hurts are two completely different types of players, and a vision designed around a big, strong-armed pocket passer isn’t going to translate well to a smaller QB whose biggest asset is his legs. Four seasons later, although Hurts has developed tremendously, Sirianni has still not figured out how to install a successful system around Hurts.

Do not get it twisted: Hurts’s massive success was not because of Sirianni.

That credit goes to then-offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen.

Ever since Steichen left to coach the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 offseason, Philadelphia’s offense has been a calamity, and Hurts leads the league in turnovers.

However, this is not the first time that the Eagles have been bad offensively when Steichen is not the leading voice.

In the 2021 season, Sirianni called offensive plays for the first seven games. The team was 2-5 in that stretch. After he handed the offense over to Steichen, Hurts and the offense took off, won seven out of their last ten games, finished 9-8, and earned a playoff spot.

After some improvements to the roster and an offseason to completely master Steichen’s system, Hurts’s effectiveness in the passing game took a massive leap, and the offense exploded the next season, finishing second in scoring offense and top five in many statistical categories in 2022.

Even though Sirianni was there overseeing it all, he is only 15-13 without Steichen running the show on offense, and they haven’t even looked close to the machine that this offense was with Sirianni having this much power over it.

Not only has the offense looked anemic more often than not under Sirianni, but the defense has been even worse. While I won’t pin the defense’s falloff on him, it still provides even more reasons for them to move on from him.

When the 2023 Miami Dolphins’ defense was stagnant due to key injuries, Mike McDaniel was able to keep the Dolphins afloat and in playoff contention because he’s an offensive head coach, and he makes sure that his side of the ball is taken care of.

Mike Tomlin has been able to keep the Steelers above .500 and in the playoffs for many years despite having lackluster offenses because he’s a defensive coach, and he always makes sure his side of the ball is taken care of.

That’s what you’re supposed to do as an NFL head coach: Even when the team trajectory looks bleak, you are supposed to patch the ship and steer it back in the right direction by taking care of your side of the football.

If you can’t command either side of the ball or fix major deficiencies, then what do you actually bring to the table?

This has been the question that has plagued Sirianni since the moment he gave up play calling duties in 2021. When the Eagles had success, nobody really cared about what Sirianni’s contributions to winning were because winning cures all.

But the 2023 season collapse and now the lackluster start to the 2024 season has proved that Sirianni’s biggest contribution to winning was the offensive coordinator that he brought with him. Once he departed, he failed to replace him, and the team tanked as a result.

Now, it is clearer than ever that unless the Eagles want to keep playing coordinator roulette to determine their success, Sirianni needs to go. Period.

Eagles’ Struggles Continue in Lackluster 33-16 Loss to Buccaneers

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts surrenders a strip-sack fumble to Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David. Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images

TAMPA, FL. –  No, Philly fans, this is not a bad dream: The real Eagles have stood up and verified that the 2023 season collapse was not just a down year, but a preview of the new direction that the team was headed.

The Eagles put yet another embarrassing performance on tape yesterday, getting routed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 33-16. This marks the fourth time out of five games in the Jalen Hurts/Nick Sirianni era that the Eagles have lost to the Bucs.

Arguably, this was the worst loss of them all – and that’s saying a lot, considering the last matchup between these two teams was a 32-9 grand finale to one of the worst collapses in NFL history.

Philadelphia failed to score in the first quarter for the fourth game in a row, making them the only team in the NFL this season to not score any points in the first quarter. Combine this with a defense that allowed two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the game and a third TD ten seconds into the second quarter, and the result is a borderline unwatchable performance that at minimum rivals the 2023 wild card round loss.

Whether or not fans will give the Eagles’ offense a pass for their performance is still up in the air. Although it looked eerily similar to their performance in the 2023 playoffs, it simply cannot be ignored that they were without their top 2 wide receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, as well as all-pro right tackle Lane Johnson.

To make matters worse, the extreme feels-like temperature of 106 degrees knocked center Cameron Jurgens out of the game with cramps, forcing pro bowl left guard Landon Dickerson to play center for the rest of the game while backup Tyler Steen filled the vacant left guard spot.

However, if you think for one second that the city of Philadelphia isn’t going to be in an uproar over that abysmal defensive performance, you may want to think again.

All eleven starters were active to start the game, and once again, they were awful at every level. The defensive front was dominated all game and the secondary was atrocious, giving up 24 points in the first quarter and a half. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his crew had no answers for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw for 347 yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions, and completed 11 of his first 12 passes.

“I didn’t have the guys ready to start,” coach Sirianni said after the game.

That statement is 100% true, and not just for this game, but for each of Philly’s four games this season. The Eagles are now 3-8 including playoffs since the start of their 2023 season collapse in December, and they will now head into the bye week at 2-2.

It’s safe to say that Sirianni is on one of the hottest seats in the NFL right now, and if his Eagles continue to look this way moving forward, his worst nightmare will become a reality.