Eagles’ Offense Is Sputtering - And It’s Not on Jalen Hurts
Let’s get one thing straight: Jalen Hurts isn’t the problem in Philadelphia. In fact, he might be the only reason the Eagles are still standing in what’s been a frustrating follow-up to their Super Bowl 59 triumph.
The offense? It’s broken.
The rhythm, the explosiveness, the identity - all of it has unraveled. And while Hurts has been the face of the franchise, he shouldn’t be the face of the blame.
Despite the chaos around him, Hurts has managed to stay efficient. He’s been forced into survival mode - making plays with his legs, protecting the football, and trying to squeeze out production without the kind of support he had during last season’s dominant run.
The offensive line hasn’t held up the same. The run game’s lost its punch.
And the play-calling? Well, let’s talk about that.
Kevin Patullo: The Play-Calling Problem
It’s never easy replacing a sharp offensive mind, and Kevin Patullo has learned that the hard way. The Eagles’ offense, once a balanced, unpredictable machine, has become far too easy to defend.
The creativity that defined last season is missing. There’s a lack of adjustment in-game and week-to-week - whether it’s sticking too long with a cold hand or leaning too heavily into pass-heavy looks that don’t fit the moment.
Opposing defenses aren’t being forced to guess anymore. The Eagles’ personnel usage and tendencies have become predictable.
Patullo, who’s been on staff since 2021, hasn’t brought a fresh enough perspective to keep the offense evolving. The result?
A unit that looks stale, especially compared to last year’s dynamic group. The Eagles may need to look outside the building this offseason to re-ignite their offensive spark.
Saquon Barkley: The Wear and Tear Is Real
Saquon Barkley was a workhorse last year - and it showed. He touched the ball a staggering 482 times across the regular season and playoffs, averaging over 24 touches per game with a gaudy 5.7 yards per carry. That version of Barkley was explosive, elusive, and essential to the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.
But this year? The tread on the tires is showing.
He’s averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and 4.3 yards per touch - a steep drop from last season’s 6.0. The home-run runs have dried up, too.
After ripping off 17 runs of 20+ yards in 2024, he’s only managed four so far this season. Some of that’s on Barkley, now 28 and feeling the effects of that heavy workload.
But some of it’s also on the blocking in front of him.
Landon Dickerson & Tyler Steen: Interior Line Woes
The Eagles’ offensive line has long been a pillar of their identity. And while the tackles - Jordan Mailata and a banged-up but battling Lane Johnson - are holding their own, the interior has been a different story. Brett Toth has filled in admirably at center for Cam Jurgens, but the guard play from Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen has left a lot to be desired.
The issues inside have made life tough for Barkley and Hurts alike. Without consistent push between the tackles, the run game’s become unreliable.
That puts more pressure on Hurts to create on his own and makes the offense easier to defend. When the Eagles can’t establish the run, they become one-dimensional - and not in a good way.
A.J. Brown: Big Numbers, Bigger Questions
A.J. Brown’s stat line might look solid at first glance - especially after back-to-back big games against the Eagles and Bears, where he racked up 18 catches for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns.
But zoom out, and the picture’s less flattering. In his other nine games, he’s totaled just 457 yards and 3 scores.
He’s still getting targets - 7.9 per game, slightly up from last year - but the explosive plays aren’t there. His yards per reception have dropped from 16.1 last season to 12.5 this year, a reflection of an offense that isn’t pushing the ball downfield with the same aggression or success.
And then there’s the off-field noise. Brown’s visible frustration - whether through media comments or social media posts - hasn’t helped a locker room that’s searching for answers. Instead of rallying together, the Eagles have too often found themselves pointing fingers.
Nick Sirianni: Time to Take the Wheel
Nick Sirianni has built a strong résumé in Philadelphia - a Super Bowl ring, two NFC titles, and the best start to a coaching career in franchise history. But now, with the offense sputtering, it’s time for him to assert himself.
This is Sirianni’s system. And when the offensive coordinator isn’t delivering, it falls on the head coach to step in.
Whether that means taking over play-calling duties or reshaping the weekly game plan, Sirianni needs to steer the ship. He’s proven he can motivate and lead - now he needs to get hands-on and fix what’s broken.
The situation isn’t dire - not yet. At 8-4, the Eagles are still in prime position to win the NFC East and make a deep postseason run.
But the offense has to find its footing. The defense has had its own ups and downs, but it’s the offensive inconsistency that’s dragging this team into dogfights they should be winning comfortably.
The Bottom Line
Jalen Hurts isn’t the reason the Eagles’ offense has taken a step back - he’s the reason it hasn’t completely collapsed. The issues run deeper, from the coordinator booth to the interior line, from the run game to the locker room chemistry. There’s still time to right the ship, but it’s going to take more than Hurts’ heroics.
The Eagles have the talent. They have the pedigree.
What they need now is accountability - and a plan. Because if they want to get back to the Super Bowl, it’s going to take more than just surviving.
It’s going to take evolving.