After three straight losses that had fans and analysts questioning their trajectory, the Philadelphia Eagles came out in Week 15 and delivered a dominant 31-0 shutout over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was the kind of win that, on paper, looks like a turning point. But not everyone’s ready to declare the Eagles “back” just yet.
The performance snapped a frustrating skid and kept Philly firmly in the playoff picture, improving their record to 9-5 and keeping them atop the NFC East. But considering the Raiders came into the game at 2-12 and looked every bit like a team ready for the offseason, some are pumping the brakes on the celebration.
Among the skeptics is longtime Philadelphia sports voice Spike Eskin, who didn’t hold back on Thursday’s episode of SportsRadio 94WIP. His message? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
“Three days into this week, I’m even more convinced that Sunday’s game was just… the Raiders,” Eskin said. “I need to see more. I’m not back yet.”
And he’s not alone in that sentiment. According to Eskin, even Eagles fans were split on Monday-some encouraged, others dismissing the blowout as little more than a tune-up against a team that had mentally checked out.
“I rewatched the game,” Eskin added. “That Raiders team had no desire to be there on Sunday.
None. And the Eagles did what they should do.
But I still saw a running game that wasn’t getting a lot of push. I saw five passes from under center.
The defense I trust-but again, it was against a team that had given up. I still need to see more.
I’m not convinced they’re back on track.”
That’s a fair critique. The Eagles did what good teams are supposed to do against bottom-tier opponents: dominate early, control the tempo, and close the door. But if you’re looking for signs that Philly is ready to make a deep playoff run, you might want to look beyond just the box score.
Still, there’s no denying that Jalen Hurts looked more like the quarterback Eagles fans have come to expect. After a rough outing in Week 14-where he threw four interceptions and turned the ball over five times in a 22-19 loss to the Chargers-Hurts bounced back in a big way. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders, showing poise, accuracy, and the kind of decision-making that had been missing the week before.
To his credit, Hurts didn’t shy away from responsibility after that Chargers loss. He faced the media head-on, owning the performance and setting the tone for how he and the team would respond.
“I look at the man in the mirror,” Hurts said last Monday. “I have to find a way to win, and we all have to have the same mentality. It starts with me… But at the end of the day, it’s all about how you respond.”
That’s the mindset you want from your franchise quarterback. And on Sunday, Hurts responded.
Now sitting at 9-5, the Eagles are in control of their playoff destiny. But this next stretch will tell us more than a blowout win over a two-win team ever could.
The defense looks solid, and Hurts seems to have recalibrated. Still, questions remain-especially about the run game’s consistency and the overall offensive identity heading into the postseason.
Next up: a Saturday showdown with the Commanders at 5 p.m. ET.
It’s another opportunity for the Eagles to prove that Week 15 wasn’t just a one-off against a team that had already packed it in. If Hurts and company can string together another strong performance-this time against a division rival-it’ll go a long way toward quieting the doubts and solidifying their status as legitimate contenders.
Because in December, it’s not just about winning. It’s about showing you’re built for January.