The Eagles struggled to find their offensive rhythm once again, ultimately suffering a 33-16 defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For the third consecutive week, the offense lacked momentum and consistency, revealing a significant issue with ball movement as key players remained sidelined with injuries.
It’s challenging for any offense to perform at a high level without essential players like Lane Johnson, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. However, with a young, highly compensated quarterback like Jalen Hurts, the expectation is that he can navigate less-than-ideal situations—a necessity for a player earning top-tier money.
“I think overall, I just have to play better,” Hurts acknowledged after the game. “We had plenty of opportunities to lead the offense and play complementary football, and it starts with me. Falling behind like we did means I need to support the defense more effectively.”
In an alarming statistic, the Eagles had zero offensive yards until just six minutes remained in the second quarter. This lack of production is unacceptable for a professional team with playoff aspirations, regardless of injuries.
Hurts struggled to ignite the passing game, hampered by inconsistent pass protection and his own inaccuracy as a passer. Over his last 20 starts dating back to last season, he has committed 27 turnovers, including a critical strip sack during this game.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was reluctant to place the blame solely on Hurts, insisting that multiple factors contribute to the team’s struggles and that not all of it falls on the quarterback. “That’s not [on] Jalen,” Sirianni stated.
However, if Hurts continues to fall short of making impactful plays like he did in 2022, the Eagles may face a series of challenging games until they regain their full roster. There may be a disconnect between Hurts and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, although some of these issues predate Moore’s tenure. Hurts may rely on the talent surrounding him to elevate his game, which, while understandable, limits the team’s potential—especially when their defense struggles to contain opposing offenses.
The one bright spot for the Eagles was the newly acquired Saquon Barkley, who has returned to form as one of the league’s most dynamic running backs. Barkley recorded 12 touches for 116 yards, yet the Eagles could not consistently utilize him due to falling behind early in the game. The offense lacks the capability to play catch-up without its top wide receivers, leaving the team at a loss for how to generate offense under these circumstances.
Sirianni, Moore, and Hurts must find solutions to address this offensive slump. With significant resources and contracts invested in this unit, the Eagles cannot afford to struggle through as many games as they currently are. While the return of Smith, Brown, and Johnson will likely improve the situation, they must avoid allowing these dismal performances to become the norm. This downward trend has persisted for too long, prompting scrutiny of Hurts’ standing among NFL quarterbacks.
At 2-2, Philadelphia still has time to turn things around, but they must find answers swiftly, as their performance this season has not been conducive to winning football. Since starting last season with a 10-1 record, the Eagles have now gone 3-7; they cannot allow this trend to continue.
“We’ve faced various adversities,” Hurts said. “We just have to keep learning from these moments. That’s the takeaway from every game we’ve played.”
