The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off three straight wins against the Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, and Buffalo Bills. Despite two of those wins being blowouts, many Eagles fans felt uneasy.
This uneasiness came after the incredibly close, narrow victory against Buffalo.
The low-scoring affair saw 13 points in the first half and none in the second. What’s more, the Eagles were only able to muster 17 total yards in the second half. Meanwhile, the defense held firm, pitching a shutout for most of the game. The ultimate concern among Eagles fans was the contrast in offensive performance between the first and second halves.
In the first half, the offense operated like a well-oiled machine, putting up 13 points. They did this despite what many would consider dreadful weather. However, the second half saw the complete opposite.
The frightening part is that this isn’t the first time this has happened.
The Eagles’ Common Theme
Philadelphia has tended all season to take a significant lead early in a game and then slow down. They play conservatively throughout the second half. This has resulted in two blown leads against the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys. Both ended in losses, and there were several close calls against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, and, most recently, the Buffalo Bills.
What these struggles ultimately boil down to is Coach Nick Sirianni and Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo playing a “prevent” type of offense. They run the clock, prevent turnovers, and play it incredibly safe.
The problem with this is that the lack of risk-taking and stale play-calling is terribly predictable. It becomes manageable to counter. This results in four three-and-outs in the second half. Additionally, offensive efficiency is completely shut down.
Four times this season, the Eagles have played a powerful offensive first half and either made no halftime adjustments or played ultra-conservatively in the second half, resulting in very few offensive points. This, in turn, forces the defense to make plays, prevent the other team from scoring, and results in a low-scoring game.
This is the 8th game this season in which the Philly defense has held its opponent to 20 or fewer points, but they can’t carry the load in the second half of every game.
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Breaking It Down
Ultimately, the offensive line’s poor performance and poor scheming are the culprits. Not only has Lane Johnson missed a multitude of games with injuries, but Guard Landon Dickerson and Center Cam Jurgens have been incredibly disappointing.
Additionally, Eagles Fans and analysts alike have noticed a repetitive theme amongst the playcalling. The calls typically consist of a run play on first and second down and a passing play on third down.
The offense still refuses to throw the ball in between the numbers. DeVonta Smith has been completely ignored. The defense is left to pick up the pieces.
Many analysts have broken down the offense further. Analyst Emmanuel Acho released a clip on his social media accounts that breaks down the subpar play calls, explaining why Jalen Hurts is not at fault for the offensive inefficiencies.
Additionally, things don’t seem to be looking any better, as Eagles fans were left underwhelmed by Kevin Patullo’s uninspired press conference ahead of Week 18.
The Consequences?
The NFC is stacked this year. The Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers all boast electric offenses and bruising defenses. The Eagles have their work cut out for them if they hope to make it out of the NFC, let alone win the Super Bowl.
Ultimately, with the playoff picture pretty much set, it will take a consistent offense and some risks to repeat as World Champions.
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