The Eagles faced significant criticism after a 34-17 loss to the Giants, particularly from ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky. He pointed out that the team’s struggles stemmed from predictable offensive plays, which seems to hinder their championship potential.
“They’re always in the gun,” he tweeted on Thursday night, highlighting a lack of creativity in their offensive playcalling, especially concerning Saquon Barkley’s role as either a runner or a receiver.
Lane Johnson, the Eagles’ star right tackle, echoed these concerns, admitting that the team can become “very predictable.” This last loss added to a troubling trend, as they’ve dropped two consecutive games in just five days. “If you’re one-dimensional and not allowing your players to think, then bad things can happen,” Johnson added. “We need to keep the defense guessing.”
While the Eagles’ offense has typically ranked among the best in the NFL under their head coach, this year feels different as they aim to defend their Super Bowl title. The offensive unit, filled with stars like Barkley, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith, has underperformed during their 4-2 start. Reports indicate some receivers are feeling anxious, especially since they’ve had to sit out of games intermittently. For reference, Rams receiver Puka Nacua has nearly matched their total receiving yards on his own this season.
Barkley, after an impressive last season, has seen a noticeable drop in his average rushing yards per game—from about 125 last year to around 54 this season. With this being Kevin Pattullo’s first year as offensive coordinator, following Kellen Moore’s departure to New Orleans, there’s speculation that the offense may appear more simplistic.
If Orlovsky’s assumptions hold, they could shed light on why defenses seem to have a better handle on Philadelphia’s offensive strategies lately. Currently, the team sits at 17th in the league, averaging 23.7 points per game.
Coach Nick Sirianni responded to the criticism, refuting claims of their play predictability in the running game. “I think we had some good moments,” he noted, although he acknowledged some shortcomings in the second half. “We need to do a better job of putting our guys in positions to succeed.” Sirianni indicated that adjustments will occur, viewing the upcoming weekend as an opportunity to regroup.
During their recent loss, the Eagles moved the ball effectively but only ended up scoring 17 points. Barkley totaled 67 yards, while Brown recorded six catches for 80 yards, and Smith added four for 49 yards. Missed opportunities plagued their performance, including a crucial interception by Cordale Flott that kept Brown from scoring a touchdown while he was open in the end zone.
Barkley also spoke against the idea that their offense lacks variety, emphasizing that football often comes down to execution in the right moments. “You can’t always predict what will happen,” he said. “Last year, everyone knew we were running, and we still succeeded. We need to get back to that mindset.”
With a break coming up, Philadelphia has 10 days to prepare for their Week 7 matchup against the Vikings before facing the Giants again on October 26th.
