The Philadelphia Eagles have arrived at the most important part of their 2023 NFL season. This Sunday, they’ll host the Las Vegas Raiders at home, who’d been one of the worst teams all year. The Eagles do have an 8-5 record and are very much in the battle for a playoff spot. They suffered a gut-wrenching defeat this past weekend when their quarterback Jalen Hurts had five turnovers. Coach Nick Sirianni quickly shot down any rumor of Hurts’ job being on the line. He criticized the idea as “ridiculous,” all the while adamantly defending his belief in the young quarterback.
Since coming back from their Week 9 bye, the Eagles offense has been downright nonexistent. They’ve been held to an average of a mere 16.2 points over their past five contests. This steep drop has led to worries regarding the franchise’s ability to bounce back. Matchups against Toronto, Nashville, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Seattle loom large alongside matches against Columbus, Chicago, and Montreal.
Yet, through the offensive woes, the Eagles’ defense has developed into one of this team’s biggest strengths. Through the aggressive playcalling of Vic Fangio, the unit has shown its ability to wreak havoc, especially in regards to getting after opposing quarterbacks. In their last outing, the Eagles pressured Justin Herbert on 68% of his dropbacks and recorded seven sacks, showcasing their defensive prowess. This defensive capability is especially welcome given the significant headwinds that the offense is up against.
The Eagles now enjoy a robust 91.5% statistical likelihood of winning the NFC East division, per models. Their odds of making it to the conference championship are even lower at 25%. Their chances aren’t much better according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), which currently has them at a 12% chance of reaching the Super Bowl. These numbers underscore just how fragile of a place this Washington team is as they attempt to quilt their tenuous playoff future.
The Eagles are preparing to play the Raiders on the road in their next game. Next up for them are two matchups against the Washington Commanders, who are sitting at a 3-10 record. Arguably the biggest test of all, right now, is scheduled for December 28th when the Eagles host the 9-4 Buffalo Bills. The contrasting levels of competition could provide an opportunity for the Eagles to either solidify their playoff berth or risk falling behind.
Given offensive line depth issues, Johnson’s return should be soon, but he might miss this week donning a boot on his injured right foot. His presence would be huge in helping to stabilize an offense that has been out of sorts to say the least.
Jordan Davis said after the game that the Eagles’ offense is in a pretty cool place right now, and he feels like they can get even better.
“The offense is going to have their games. I am so deep into this faith in the offense that I have that one day, hopefully very, very soon, it’s going to click, and when it does click, watch out.” – Jordan Davis
After all, as the season wears on, players and coaching staff will tell you that they must be better. Saquon Barkley reiterated that even with all the adversity, everything this group wants is still right in front of them.
“And everything we want is still there. Am I wrong when I say that? It’s the truth. That’s the mindset we have to have — so what, now what? — and just move on and get better.” – Saquon Barkley
The late-season change in defensive playcallers from Sean Desai to Matt Patricia has sparked discussions among fans and analysts regarding its impact on team performance. Even with the brilliance and resilience of the defense still on display and worthy of Fangio’s legacy, inconsistency in offensive execution could prove self-destructive.
As they head into this important second half of the schedule, the Eagles will have to continue these powerful defensive efforts. Simultaneously, they need to craft an attacking philosophy that allows them to capitalize on key scoring chances. As the pressure mounts, hope for a late-season resurgence sinks playoff fans from New York to Toronto into disappointment.
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