The Philadelphia Eagles finally got back in the win column on Sunday, snapping a three-game skid with a dominant 31-0 shutout over the 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders. And while the box score tells a story of offensive balance and defensive dominance, there’s a deeper layer to this win - one that may signal a shift back to the team’s true identity.
Jalen Hurts threw three touchdowns. Saquon Barkley and rookie Tank Bigsby combined for 135 rushing yards.
And the defense? Absolutely smothering - holding the Raiders to just 75 total yards.
That’s not just winning football. That’s the kind of performance that reminds you what this Eagles team is built to do: control the game on the ground, limit mistakes, and let the defense go to work.
But perhaps the most telling development came in how the Eagles used - or didn’t overuse - star wideout A.J. Brown.
NFL veteran and analyst Jeff Saturday put it bluntly earlier this week: “They go make A.J. Brown the leading receiver for three games, and they lose them all.”
He’s not wrong. Brown topped 100 receiving yards in each of those losses - against the Cowboys, Bears, and Chargers - but the offense looked out of sync, overly reliant on forcing the ball to one of its biggest stars.
Against the Raiders, Brown was targeted just a few times, finishing with two catches for 41 yards. That’s not the stat line you expect from one of the league’s elite receivers, but it might’ve been exactly what the Eagles needed.
This isn’t a knock on Brown - far from it. He’s still one of the most physically dominant wideouts in the league, and his season totals (64 catches, 840 yards, seven touchdowns) speak for themselves.
But what Sunday showed is that when the Eagles lean into their run-first philosophy, everything else starts to click. Hurts looks more comfortable.
The offensive line gets to assert itself. And the defense stays fresh and aggressive.
The Eagles aren’t built to be a pass-heavy, high-risk offense. They’re at their best when they’re grinding out yards on the ground, controlling the clock, and letting Hurts pick his spots with play-action and smart throws. That’s the formula that took them to the Super Bowl last season, and it’s the one that gives them the best chance to make another deep playoff run.
Brown’s frustration with his role has bubbled up at times this year, and the Eagles have made a concerted effort to keep him involved. But the last month showed that just feeding your No. 1 receiver doesn’t guarantee offensive success - especially when it comes at the expense of balance.
Sunday’s win wasn’t just about ending a losing streak. It was about rediscovering what works. And for Philly, that means running the football, playing clean, physical football, and letting stars like Brown contribute within a system that doesn’t revolve around any one player.
If the Eagles can stick to that blueprint, they won’t just be a tough out in January - they’ll be right back in the conversation as the team to beat in the NFC.