Philadelphia Eagles Extend Winning Streak Despite Passing Struggles
The Philadelphia Eagles secured a hard-fought victory against the Carolina Panthers, winning 22-16 in a game that exemplified their tenacity and resilience on the field. This triumph marked the Eagles' ninth consecutive win, a significant achievement highlighting the team’s strong defensive and rushing capabilities. However, despite the win, the Eagles showed noticeable struggles in their passing game, a concern expressed by both players and fans alike.
The Eagles dominated on the ground, accumulating a remarkable 209 rushing yards. This aspect of their offense has become a cornerstone, crucial to their continued success. However, their air attack faltered, amassing only 83 net passing yards against the Panthers, a team with a defense ranked 24th in pass yardage allowed and 27th in net yards per pass attempt.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts delivered a mixed performance, recording 108 passing yards with an average of 5.1 yards per attempt. His struggles with deep throws were evident as he completed just two out of six attempts for passes traveling more than 10 air yards, resulting in a disappointing passer rating of 59.0 in these scenarios. Despite these challenges, Hurts maintained an overall passer rating of 102.7 over 40 attempts.
His teammates A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith did not mince words regarding the team's passing performance. Brown candidly remarked, "Passing. What we did today is not good enough. It won't help us." This sentiment was echoed by Smith, who stated, "I think we can do a lot better. Pass game we can be a lot better... We didn't play up to our standard."
While the struggles in the passing game are undeniable, Hurts has remained a crucial contributor to the Eagles' offense, scoring five total touchdowns across the past two games—three through the air and two on the ground. Over the course of their current winning streak, he has contributed 23 total touchdowns with only two giveaways. His efficient management of the offense is reflected in his passer rating of 113.7 during the nine-game stretch, ranking fourth in the NFL.
The challenge for Hurts has been consistency in deep throws, yet he has exhibited a remarkable passer rating of 126.0 on those throws over the full nine-game stretch, indicating potential that can be further harnessed.
Hurts emphasized the importance of focusing on team success rather than individual metrics, saying, "Winning is the main thing." His perspective was one of collective growth, expressing, "It isn't about solving anything. Everybody has a reason to want more. It's a fair desire of being in fullness to where we can be because we've done it before. Just got to build, got to progress. Have to find a way to come together and synch as a unit and play complementary ball."
Left tackle Jordan Mailata echoed similar sentiments on the team's approach to improvement and accountability. "We have to put our pride aside and take coaching. That is the form of accountability we harp on a lot. So that's what we have to do. We have to put our pride aside, admit your mistake, learn from it, and don't repeat it. And learn from others' mistakes," he stated.
As the Eagles continue their season, their resilience and ability to adapt will be tested. While their rushing prowess is undeniable, the passing game’s effectiveness will be pivotal in sustaining their current momentum. The views from both players and coaching staff make it clear: there is a determined focus on refining their passing strategy to complement their overall robust gameplay.
The Philadelphia Eagles continue to soar, and with each game, the team strives to polish every facet of their performance. Their commitment to "play complementary ball," as Hurts puts it, is not just talk but a philosophy that has propelled them to a successful streak and aims to sustain them through the season.