The Philadelphia Eagles continue to soar, capturing their ninth consecutive victory by defeating the Carolina Panthers 22-16. The Eagles' performance against the Panthers was a testament to their resilience, amassing 209 rushing yards despite challenges in their passing game.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts managed to navigate the team efficiently, although his passing statistics were not reflective of prior high-flying performances. With only 83 net passing yards against the Panthers and himself contributing just 108 passing yards at an average of 5.1 yards per attempt, Hurts had a challenging outing against a defense that was ranked 24th in pass yardage allowed and 27th in net yards per pass attempt. Despite these difficulties, Hurts has shown his versatility and value to the team, contributing five total touchdowns over the past two games, including three passing and two rushing touchdowns.
Struggles in the Air, Strength on the Ground
Despite leading their team to victory, Eagles players acknowledged the need for improvement. A.J. Brown, one of the team's leading receivers, was candid about the team's need for a better passing game, stating, "Passing. What we did today is not good enough. It won't help us." His comments echo the team's sentiment—a desire to enhance their aerial attacks to balance their strong ground game.
DeVonta Smith also highlighted this area of concern, stating, "I think we can do a lot better. Pass game we can be a lot better... We didn't play up to our standard." While the duo provided sharp critiques, their words also fuel a commitment to excellence, a hallmark of championship-caliber squads.
Against the backdrop of these challenges, Jalen Hurts remains a pillar of composure and focus. Hurts recognized the rough patches but retained an optimistic stance: "Winning is the main thing." His approach emphasizes progress and teamwork, focusing on unity and complementary play. "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," he reflected on the team's ambitions beyond their imperfections.
Accountability and Team Spirit
Adding to the chorus of voices stressing improvement, offensive tackles like Jordan Mailata embrace an introspective approach. For Mailata, learning from mistakes is key to 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."
While Hurts ranks last in passing yards among quarterbacks with two starts in the past two games, he maintains an impressive overall passer rating of 102.7 on 40 attempts. During this nine-game winning streak, his passer rating of 113.7 places him fourth overall in the NFL. Hurts' effectiveness is underscored by his calculated gambles on longer throws, where his rating surges to 126.0 when targeting receivers beyond ten air yards.
The Road Ahead
As their winning streak continues, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves buoyed by commendable team performances but are equally aware of the adjustments necessary to sustain their success. The tenacity of their ground game, coupled with a frank acknowledgement of their passing shortcomings, spells a promising future should their potent offense fully align. For now, their recent triumph over the Panthers marks another stride along their impressive run, with the team fully engaged in its quest to reach the zenith of their performance potential.
