Just nine months after lifting the Lombardi Trophy in a thrilling Super Bowl win over the Chiefs, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in unfamiliar territory: fighting to stop a freefall.
After an 8-2 start that had them looking like a repeat contender, the Eagles have now dropped three straight games-and the losses haven’t just been piling up, they’ve been getting uglier by the week. Monday night’s overtime loss to the Chargers was the low point so far, with Jalen Hurts tossing four interceptions in a 22-19 defeat that left fans and analysts alike searching for answers.
Naturally, when a team struggles, the quarterback takes center stage in the conversation. But head coach Nick Sirianni isn’t entertaining any talk of benching his franchise signal-caller. Appearing on WIP-FM Wednesday, Sirianni shut down the idea with conviction.
“I think that’s ridiculous,” Sirianni said. “I know every time I go out on that field with Jalen Hurts as our quarterback, we have a chance to win the game.”
And he’s not wrong-at least, not entirely. Hurts has thrown 19 touchdowns to just six interceptions this season, while also adding eight rushing scores.
On paper, those numbers still hold up. They’re in line with what we’ve come to expect from the dual-threat QB who’s already made two Pro Bowl appearances and was firmly in the MVP conversation just a couple of seasons ago.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story-and lately, the tape hasn’t been kind.
It started to unravel back on November 10 against the Packers, when Hurts managed just one passing touchdown in a narrow 10-7 win. That was followed by a rough outing against the Lions, where he completed just 50% of his passes and found the end zone only once-on the ground. He bounced back slightly against the Cowboys in a losing effort, but the performance still lacked the command and explosiveness we’ve seen from him at his best.
Then came Monday night in Inglewood. Four interceptions. A game that was there for the taking, and Hurts couldn’t seize it.
Now, the questions that have hovered around Hurts since his college days-about consistency, about whether he can carry a team through adversity-are back on the table. Fair or not, they’re being asked again.
Still, Sirianni isn’t pointing fingers.
“This is a team game,” he said. “This is the most ultimate team game.
When you win, you win together as a team, you lose together as a team. It’s never just one thing.”
That’s the message inside the locker room, and it’s the right one. Because while Hurts hasn’t been sharp, the issues in Philly run deeper.
The offensive rhythm is off. The protection has been shaky.
The run game hasn’t provided the balance it once did. And the defense, once a calling card, hasn’t been able to bail them out.
The Eagles are still very much in the playoff mix, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. They’ve got a quarterback who’s proven he can lead them to the mountaintop-but right now, they’re stuck in the valley.
If they’re going to climb out, it won’t be because of one player. It’ll take a collective reset. And it has to happen soon.