The Philadelphia Eagles clinched their ninth consecutive victory on Sunday, defeating the Carolina Panthers 22-16 in a hard-fought battle.
While the team’s ground game continued to shine, highlighted by Saquon Barkley setting a new franchise single-season rushing record, concerns about the passing attack loomed large, with star receiver A.J. Brown visibly frustrated.
The Eagles mustered just 83 passing yards against Carolina, following an equally lackluster 112-yard performance through the air in Week 13’s win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Brown, who had only four catches for 43 yards, expressed his dissatisfaction with quarterback Jalen Hurts and the passing attack after the game.
Hurts also addressed the team’s struggles through the air, describing the offense as being out of sync.
Hurts said the passing game has a “lack of synchronization.” When asked for specifics, he added, “Not right now.”
The Eagles have relied heavily on their dominant rushing attack, led by Barkley, to carry them through recent games.
However, the lack of a complementary passing threat is raising concerns as the playoffs near.
Over the last three games, Hurts hasn’t surpassed 180 passing yards, and he has failed to crack even 110 yards in the past two outings.
While Brown and fellow receiver DeVonta Smith (four catches) have made contributions, their limited opportunities signal a need for adjustment.
Brown’s public comments could serve as a wake-up call for the team to ramp up their offensive attack.
However, there is growing concern that Hurts’ limitations as a passer could end up holding the Eagles back come playoff time.
Also, it’s hard to downplay the tension that comes with Brown publicly criticizing Hurts.
No matter what Brown’s opinion of Hurts is, it’s an unwritten rule in the locker room to never publicly criticize a teammate, especially a captain no less.
Sure, Brown is frustrated, but the fact of the matter is the Eagles won the game.
Some fans were annoyed by Brown’s seemingly selfish attitude to complain about his quarterback publicly.
All of this, combined with the trauma from last season, leads to the question of is there’s a deeper issue in Philadelphia?
Head coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged the team’s passing struggles and took some accountability for the lack of execution.
“We’re definitely capable of playing better and coaching better in the passing game,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the Eagles remain one of the NFL’s hottest teams, sitting at 11-2 on the season.
Their resilience was tested by the Panthers, but their ground game ensured they stayed in control.
Having said that, it’s fair to wonder if their current style of play can lead to sustained success in the playoffs when the Birds will need to count on significant contributions from the passing game.
What are your thoughts on Brown’s comments?
Do you just chalk it up to simple frustration? … Or is there a deeper problem in Philly???
