Eagles vs. Raiders: Two Super Bowl QBs, Two Very Different Paths Collide in Week 15
Week 15 brings a unique quarterback matchup to Lincoln Financial Field - two Super Bowl champions under center, but with drastically different résumés. Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ franchise cornerstone and Super Bowl MVP, will square off against Kenny Pickett, now starting for the Raiders after a season that’s taken more turns than a Philly cheesesteak order.
Yes, both QBs technically own Super Bowl rings from last season’s Eagles run. But while Hurts was the engine of Philly’s title - throwing for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and adding another 72 on the ground with a score - Pickett’s contribution was more ceremonial.
One kneel-down, one incomplete pass, and three negative rushing yards. Still, a ring’s a ring, and in the record books, they’re both champions.
Now, Pickett returns to Philly, this time as the starter for a struggling Raiders team that’s limping through the final stretch of the season. After a shoulder injury sidelined Geno Smith, Pickett steps in against a defense he knows well - at least in theory.
He spent last year on the Eagles' roster, taking reps against Vic Fangio’s unit in practice. But knowing a defense and beating it are two very different things.
Eagles Looking to Right the Ship
The Eagles are in a funk. Three straight losses have taken some of the shine off their 8-5 record, and last week’s meltdown against the Chargers - a game where Jalen Hurts threw five picks - has fans and analysts asking tough questions. But this week offers a chance to bounce back, and not just with a win, but with a statement.
This is the kind of game where the Eagles can reassert their identity. Can they still dominate on the ground?
Can Hurts shake off the turnovers and get back to playing MVP-caliber football? Can they prove, once again, that the NFC East still runs through South Philly?
Against a Raiders team that’s had trouble stopping much of anything this year, there’s a real opportunity to do just that.
Raiders Running on Empty
When Pete Carroll took over in Vegas, the plan was clear: recreate the Seattle blueprint. That meant pairing a game-managing quarterback with a bruising running game.
Enter Ashton Jeanty - a back with shades of Beast Mode in his style and potential. But so far, the results have been anything but Marshawn-esque.
The Raiders are dead last in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and near the bottom in attempts. Even with Jeanty healthy and available, the ground game has been a non-factor. That’s not just a scheme issue - it’s a personnel and execution problem.
Could they try to establish the run against the Eagles? Sure.
But if they fall behind early, the weight will fall squarely on Pickett’s shoulders. And that’s a tough ask against a Fangio-led defense that just sacked Justin Herbert seven times last week.
Fangio’s Front Heating Up
The Eagles’ pass rush hasn’t been as dominant this season - just 31 sacks through 14 games - but they erupted in Week 14. Seven sacks, with Jalyx Hunt (2.5), Jordan Davis (1.5), and Byron Young (1.5) leading the charge. Fangio dialed up pressure from the second level, too, sending Zach Baun and Nakobe Dean on blitzes that had the Chargers scrambling.
That kind of pressure could spell trouble for Pickett, especially if his first read is taken away. He’s got some mobility, but he’s not a game-breaking runner, and his offensive line doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. If the Eagles' secondary holds up - even without the pocket-wrecking Jalen Carter - they could feast.
Hurts Needs a Clean Game
Offensively, the Eagles took some big swings last week - some worked, most didn’t. Hurts threw four interceptions and lost a fumble, and his passer rating looked like it belonged in a preseason box score. But there were signs of life in the chaos.
They attacked the middle of the field more, targeting A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert with regularity.
Goedert, in particular, looked like a matchup nightmare. They even threw in a fake Tush Push - a sign that offensive coordinator Brian Johnson is willing to get creative when the moment calls for it.
The Chargers’ defense is no joke, but the Raiders are a different story. They rank 24th in points allowed, 17th in passing yards given up, and 16th against the run. There are holes to exploit, especially in the middle of the field and at cornerback opposite Eric Stokes.
Maxx Crosby is still a problem off the edge, and the Raiders have some playmakers in Jeremy Chinn and Charles Snowden. But the unit as a whole has been inconsistent, and if the Eagles can avoid self-inflicted wounds, they should be able to move the ball with ease.
A Chance to Build Momentum
This isn’t just about getting back in the win column - it’s about setting the tone for the final stretch. The Eagles need to find their rhythm again, especially on offense.
If they can blend their old-school, run-heavy identity with some of the new wrinkles they’ve been testing, this could be more than just a get-right game. It could be the start of a playoff push.
For the Raiders, the final four games are more about evaluation than competition. Pete Carroll’s first season in Vegas hasn’t gone to plan, and with the team sitting near the bottom of the standings, changes are almost certainly coming. Whether Pickett is part of the future or just a placeholder remains to be seen, but this is a big opportunity for him to show something - anything - against a playoff-caliber defense.
No Guarantees in December
The Eagles are heavy favorites - and rightfully so. But they were also favorites against the Giants earlier this season, and we all remember how that turned out. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, especially in December.
Still, this feels like a prime bounce-back spot. The Eagles have more talent, more to play for, and a defense that’s starting to click. If they handle business, they’ll head into the final stretch with renewed confidence - and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of that Super Bowl swagger starting to return.