The Eagles spent Monday night finding new ways to get in their own way, but the most maddening part came after halftime. With the game still sitting at 10-7, they opened the third quarter with back-to-back three-and-outs, and both drives were wrecked by sideways passing concepts that went nowhere fast.
The first sequence started promisingly enough with a seven-yard Saquon Barkley run. At that point, Barkley was averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
Then came a 2nd-and-3 swing pass to Barkley that got blown up in the backfield for a two-yard loss. Jalen Hurts then missed T.J.
Edwards on third down, and the Eagles punted.
The next possession was more of the same. Barkley picked up one yard on an under-center run, and then the offense tried the Makai Lemon orbit-motion screen, a play that had not produced positive yardage this season. Zach Ertz missed his block, the play lost three yards, and the drive died again.
There’s a simple problem with these calls: the Eagles aren’t executing them. Sean Mannion keeps dialing up screen-heavy stuff the offense can’t block, and the personnel hasn’t shown it can handle these plays. What has worked for Philadelphia this season has been much cleaner - running downhill and throwing the ball down the field.
The numbers back that up, and they’re ugly. Coming into Week 3, the Eagles had already run seven screen passes for minus-15 yards, a minus-2.1-yard average. Lemon, in particular, has been used in a way that makes little sense for what the offense needs right now.
Through three weeks, Philadelphia has completed 9 of 13 passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage for minus-8 yards and no first downs. Hurts was 5-for-8 against Washington and Tennessee for minus-15 yards, then 4-for-5 against Chicago for seven yards. The only positive gain came on the play right before the emergency tush push.
That sequence nearly became a disaster, too. The Eagles got close to the end zone, but Jordan Mailata had to pancake Dontayvion Wicks’ guy to help stop the play short. They got it in on the next snap.
According to the database, through Week 3 of the 2026 season, the Eagles rank tied for 23rd in pass attempts behind the line of scrimmage with 13, tied for 21st in completions with 9, 24th in completion percentage at 69.2%, and last in both passing yards at minus-8 and yards per attempt at minus-0.6.
If those sideways calls keep showing up in Week 4, the frustration is only going to get louder. The message is blunt: no more sideways shit.
Throw the ball down the field. Run it north and south.
In Other News...
Eagles Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than One Bad Night
The Eagles 27-7 loss to the Bears on Monday Night Football looked bad on the surface, and the details only made it harder to dismiss. Philadelphia gave away the ball three times, drew 10 penalties and spent much of the night chasing Chicagos passing game, with the Bears finding steady answers through the air. For a team trying to stay on track, it was the kind of performance that turns one rough result into a much bigger conversation.
A few individual efforts still stood out, with DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley providing some of the few bright spots on an otherwise frustrating night. But the struggles of players such as Marcus Epps and Andy Dalton only added to the sense that this was more than an off game, especially for a defense that could not settle in against Case Keenums rhythm. The loss left the Eagles looking for answers in a hurry, because the issues exposed here went well beyond one bad evening. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Gave Eagles Fans A Major Scare On One Brutal Hit
Jalen Hurts gave Eagles fans a jolt on Monday night when he took a heavy hit from Bears linebacker DMarco Jackson and went down near the sideline during the game in Chicago. The moment briefly shifted the focus away from the scoreboard and onto Philadelphias quarterback, with Hurts heading to the medical tent for a concussion evaluation before the Eagles could fully exhale.
Hurts was eventually cleared and returned to the game, easing the immediate concern for a team that could ill afford to lose its starter in a prime-time matchup. Chicago had already grabbed an early lead on Case Keenums touchdown pass, so the sequence only added to an uneasy start for Philadelphia, which had to keep playing while its most important player was being checked out. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Siriannis Sideline Outburst Started With One Alarming Eagles Moment
The moment that set off Nick Siriannis sideline reaction came in the middle of a rough night for the Eagles on Monday Night Football, when Jalen Hurts took a hit that sent him into a concussion evaluation. Cameras caught Sirianni yelling at Bears linebacker DMarco Jackson in the aftermath, a flashpoint that stood out even more in a lopsided 27-7 loss for Philadelphia.
Sirianni later apologized for his language and said he regretted the way he handled himself, a notable admission from a coach whose sideline intensity has long been part of the package. For the Eagles, the bigger concern remains the health of Hurts and the larger fallout from a game that went sideways quickly, but the sideline scene added another layer to an already frustrating night. [Read more 🡒]