Eagles Fall in OT to Chargers: Jalen Hurts’ Struggles Continue as Passing Game Unravels
The Philadelphia Eagles dropped their third straight game Monday night, falling 22-19 in overtime to the Los Angeles Chargers. And while the final score tells one story, the deeper narrative continues to revolve around a sputtering offense and a quarterback in Jalen Hurts who just hasn’t looked like himself - especially in crunch time.
Hurts tossed three interceptions before the final drive, and yet, the Eagles were still in position to steal a win. After holding the Chargers to a field goal in overtime, Philadelphia’s offense had a chance to walk it off. Hurts even delivered a gutsy third-and-16 strike to DeVonta Smith for 28 yards, then baited the Chargers into an offsides penalty on fourth-and-4 to keep the drive alive.
But the hope didn’t last. On the very next sequence, Hurts made a costly misread that led to a game-sealing interception. Chargers defenders Cam Hart and Tony Jefferson combined for the play, with Hart tipping the pass and Jefferson snagging it to end the game.
Clark: “The Call Was Right. The Read Wasn’t.”
ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Ryan Clark broke down the decisive play postgame, and his insight painted a clear picture: the play call wasn’t the issue - the execution was.
“This actually was a good call by Kevin Patullo that was read wrong by Jalen Hurts,” Clark explained. “What Jalen sees is Cam Hart as the cloud corner, and he thinks Hart is going to cover Dallas Goedert.
But Hart is actually playing in between - he’s hinging, sitting in that gray area. So now he can break down on a low throw or fall back underneath Jahan Dotson on the corner route.”
That’s exactly what happened. Hart read the route combination, fell off Goedert, and got his hands on the ball. Jefferson, playing over the top, was in perfect position to finish the play.
It was a smart, well-disguised coverage by Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who’s quietly built a reputation as one of the league’s best at muddying post-snap reads. And when the picture gets cloudy, Hurts has shown a tendency to either hesitate, miss his progressions, or try to bail himself out with his legs.
This time, none of those options materialized. The result: another interception, and another missed opportunity.
Barkley Breaks Loose, but Passing Game Sputters
It’s not all on Hurts - but a lot of it is. The Eagles’ run game, which has struggled for much of the season, showed some life thanks to a 52-yard burst from Saquon Barkley. Outside of that, though, Barkley managed just 70 yards on 19 other carries, and the offense continued to lean heavily on the passing game - with diminishing returns.
Hurts finished 21-of-40 through the air, and while the stat line is rough, he didn’t get much help from his receivers either. A.J.
Brown had multiple drops, continuing a string of shaky performances that has mirrored his deteriorating connection with Hurts. Still, Brown stood by his quarterback after the game, despite the recent tension between the two.
Even so, the numbers don’t lie. Hurts is in a slump, and it’s dragging the offense down with him.
The Numbers Paint a Stark Contrast
Over the last five games, Hurts has completed just 57.5% of his passes for 1,077 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. His passer rating during that stretch?
72.4. Compare that to his first eight games - a 70.2% completion rate, 1,677 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only one pick, with a sparkling 114.4 rating - and the contrast is hard to ignore.
That early-season version of Hurts looked like the MVP candidate who helped lead Philly to a Super Bowl appearance. The recent version? Shaky, hesitant, and out of rhythm.
No Easy Answers, but No Need for Panic Either
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a team in freefall. The Eagles are still 8-5.
They still have one of the league’s top defenses. And they’re loaded with talent at the skill positions.
But the frustration is real - and growing.
There’s chatter among fans about whether a more traditional pocket passer like Tanner McKee could give the offense a different look. But benching Hurts, a Super Bowl starter and franchise cornerstone, would be a drastic move - and likely not the answer.
What the Eagles need right now is recalibration, not revolution. The passing game has to find its rhythm again. Hurts has to clean up the reads, trust the scheme, and get back to the confident, decisive quarterback we saw earlier in the year.
There’s still time to right the ship. But the margin for error is shrinking fast.