The Philadelphia Eagles are in the middle of a three-game skid, and things haven’t exactly looked smooth on or off the field. But this week offers a golden opportunity to hit the reset button - and it comes in the form of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Let’s be honest: the Raiders have become the unofficial “get right” opponent for teams trying to shake off a slump. And after what happened to the Eagles on Monday night against the Chargers, they could use that kind of matchup. That 22-19 loss wasn’t just a setback - it was a meltdown, headlined by Jalen Hurts throwing four interceptions in a game where the offense just couldn’t finish drives.
Hurts, to his credit, owned it afterward. “I take a lot of pride in the things I can control,” he said earlier this week.
“At the end of the day, that’s where it’ll always begin and end in the game. I gotta do it.”
That’s the kind of accountability you want from your franchise quarterback. But talk only goes so far - now it's about execution.
And execution should be a little easier against a Raiders defense that’s been leaky all year. Just last week, the Denver Broncos ran right through them, mixing in short passes and a power run game - a formula that just so happens to align perfectly with what the Eagles do best when they’re clicking.
The bigger issue for Hurts right now isn’t just the turnovers - it’s that the offense isn’t finishing. The Eagles are struggling to punch the ball into the end zone, and Hurts’ production, both through the air and on the ground, has taken a noticeable dip. He currently ranks 21st in EPA per dropback, and his rushing impact - once a defining part of his game - has slowed.
Then there’s the noise. A.J.
Brown has been vocal about wanting more deep shots, and head coach Nick Sirianni has been more hands-on with the play calling. That’s a lot for any quarterback to juggle, especially in a city like Philadelphia where the pressure cooker never really cools down.
Still, this week lines up in the Eagles’ favor. Raiders quarterback Geno Smith is sidelined with a shoulder injury, so backup Kenny Pickett will get the start. Pickett put up some numbers late in last week’s blowout loss to Denver, but let’s not get carried away - most of that came in garbage time after the game was already out of reach.
So yes, on paper, this is a game the Eagles should win. But this isn’t just about getting a W - it’s a measuring stick.
If Philadelphia can’t handle a Raiders team that’s been outmatched most of the season, the questions about their trajectory will only get louder. A strong showing could be the first step toward recapturing the rhythm that took them all the way to the Super Bowl last year.
The Eagles don’t need perfection this week - they just need progress. And against a vulnerable Raiders squad, there’s no better time to get back on track.