In their last two games, including their 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, the Eagles offense has struggled with their passing approach. For 108 yards and two scores, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 14 of his 21 throws. Hurts was also fired four times, but he seemed to be in rhythm with wide outs DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown.
Chris Simms, a former NFL quarterback and NBC Sports NFL analyst, cited Hurts as one of the reasons the offense struggled against the Panthers, who came into the game with the 24th-ranked pass defense, giving up 225.3 yards per game, during the Sunday night Football Night in America show that aired prior to the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers game.
According to Simms, there are pass plays where you only have to squeeze the trigger. They are too skilled to appear like this in the passing attack. Too many times, Jalen Hurts has been observed focusing on the rush, abandoning the pocket, and leaving yards on the football field. In terms of the passing game, their attack is not particularly intricate. They don’t make it look fancy. There are no shifts or motions seen. They need to come up with more inventive ways to help [Hurts] in the future. I’m not sure, but let’s try hitting the best receiver in football on the underneath route and see what he does after the catch.
GET EAGLES TICKETS FROM TICKETMASTER, VIVID SEATS, AND STUBHUB
Hurts has previously been the target of Simms’ criticism. He referred to Hurts as one of the most overrated football players in an interview with PNHX Sports in February.
Devin McCourty, a former NFL defensive back and Rutgers alum, refuted Simms’ judgment by arguing that the Eagles’ offensive production is deliberate and unwarranted.
Let us pause for a moment. They have won nine times in a row. Although I believe the Eagles enjoy this strategy, I believe other teams will watch this Carolina footage and see how they played defense—they were just one catch away from winning the game. They won another game, Hurts had 59 rushing yards, and he didn’t flip the ball over.
Jason Garrett, the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants and former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, had a different worry, cautioning that offensive players may become internally divided as a result of inefficiency in the passing game.
For me, the most important thing is to keep all of that annoyance within. Week after week, the teams that win the Super Bowl improve, but they do it internally. This does not need to be a public spectacle. Accept that you won the game and go on.
Before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon of next week, the Eagles have a week to resolve their problems.
MORE EAGLES COVERAGE
We appreciate your faith in us to deliver reliable journalism. Please think about subscribing to help us out.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!