In a spirited contest, the Philadelphia Eagles secured a hard-fought victory over the Carolina Panthers with a final score of 22-16. This latest triumph marks the Eagles' impressive ninth consecutive win, yet beneath the surface of victory lies a complex narrative of challenges that the team still faces.
Dominance on the Ground, Challenges in the Air
The Eagles' ground game soared, amassing an impressive 209 rushing yards against the Panthers. However, it was their aerial attack that floundered, managing a mere 83 net passing yards against a Carolina defense ranked in the bottom tier for pass yardage allowed. Quarterback Jalen Hurts accumulated just 108 passing yards, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt—an indication that the passing game requires significant improvement.
Despite this, Hurts continues to be a formidable dual threat, contributing five total touchdowns over his past two outings—three through the air and two on the ground. Yet, his recent performances in passing play warrant scrutiny. Among quarterbacks with two starts, Hurts ranks last in passing yards over the past two games, highlighting an area for potential development.
Deep Ball Difficulties
Honing in on the specifics, Hurts' issues become clearer when examining his performance on longer throws. On passes that traveled more than ten air yards against the Panthers, Hurts completed only two of six attempts, earning a passer rating of 59.0. This challenge with the deep ball contrasts sharply with his overall passer rating of 102.7 on 40 attempts in recent games.
Despite a passer rating that ranks fourth in the NFL over the Eagles' nine-game winning stretch, clocking in at 113.7, and an impressive 126.0 rating for throws exceeding ten air yards during this span, there's an apparent disconnect in recent games that the quarterback and his receiving corps are eager to address.
Voices from the Locker Room
Confident in their potential, Eagles players express a blend of self-reflection and determination. As wide receiver A.J. Brown bluntly put it, "Passing. What we did today is not good enough. It won't help us," emphasizing the need for a stark improvement in their passing attack.
His sentiments were echoed by fellow wideout DeVonta Smith, who observed, "I think we can do a lot better. Pass game we can be a lot better... We didn't play up to our standard." These remarks underline the players' awareness and commitment to refining their aerial game.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, reflecting a leader's mentality, acknowledged the need for growth, stating, "Winning is the main thing." Yet, he also recognized the deeper need for cohesion and continuous improvement: "It isn't about solving anything. Everybody has a reason to want more. It's a fair desire of being in fullness to where we can be because we've done it before. Just got to build, got to progress. Have to find a way to come together and synch as a unit and play complementary ball."
Culture of Accountability
For the Eagles, the path forward involves embracing a mindset grounded in accountability and continuous development. Offensive lineman Jordan Mailata articulated this approach well, emphasizing the need for humility in growth: "We have to put our pride aside and take coaching. That is the form of accountability we harp on a lot. So that's what we have to do. We have to put our pride aside, admit your mistake, learn from it, and don't repeat it. And learn from others' mistakes."
As the Eagles celebrate another victory and extend their impressive win streak, they also remain acutely aware of the work that lies ahead. For a team driven by high standards and a hunger for excellence, the future seems poised for further improvements, as they strive to balance their dynamic offensive strengths with a more potent passing attack.