The Philadelphia Eagles may have finally tapped into a formula that’s been sitting right in front of them all season: more under-center snaps. And after a dominant 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the results speak for themselves.
For the first time this year, the Eagles lined up under center on nearly half of their offensive plays-30 of 66 snaps, to be exact. That’s a season high, and the payoff was immediate.
Jalen Hurts and backup Tanner McKee combined to go a perfect 6-for-6 for 95 yards when throwing from under center. Clean, efficient, and highly effective.
Let’s break that down a little further. Hurts went 4-for-4 for 66 yards, while McKee added 2-for-2 for 29 yards.
Not only were the passes crisp, but the play-action game got a slight uptick as well, going from 17% to 20% of plays under center. It’s not a massive jump, but it’s movement in the right direction-and the production is hard to ignore.
Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the shift in formation usage after the game, and while he praised Hurts’ versatility-saying the quarterback can thrive from shotgun, pistol, or under center-the numbers suggest there’s a clear winner in that debate.
And the stats back it up in a big way.
According to the data, Hurts has been one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks when operating from under center this season. He’s completed 22 of 34 passes for 300 yards, with a sparkling 125.2 passer rating-third-best in the NFL.
Just as importantly, he’s only been sacked twice on those plays. That’s a strong indicator of how well the offensive line is protecting in those looks, and how comfortable Hurts is operating in that setup.
So what does all this mean for the Eagles moving forward?
It’s simple: this needs to be a bigger part of the offensive identity. Yes, Hurts can make plays out of shotgun and pistol-he’s proven that time and time again.
But the success rate when he’s under center is on another level. It opens up the playbook, gives the run game more bite, and creates cleaner windows for play-action passes.
It’s the kind of balance that keeps defenses guessing and gives Hurts the structure to thrive.
The good news? Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo seems to be leaning into it.
The Raiders game was a clear sign that the staff is starting to recognize the value of these formations. Now the challenge is consistency.
It’s not about sprinkling in under-center plays here and there-it’s about making them a foundational part of the weekly game plan.
The Eagles have the personnel, the quarterback, and now the data to support this shift. With the playoffs on the horizon, dialing up more under-center looks could be the key to unlocking the full potential of this offense.
The blueprint is there. It’s just a matter of sticking to it.