Typically, when an NFL team starts 4-2 over the first six weeks of the new season, you’d think the vibes surrounding the team are pretty good, right? That isn’t necessarily the case for the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles. Although the team has started 4-2, coming off back-to-back against the Denver Broncos and the lowly New York Giants, their average margin of victory is in the negatives, at -0.1667 points, and they are the only team in the NFL to be outgained in total yards in each of their first six games. Not even the 0-6 New York Jets have done that. This start has raised skepticism about the legitimacy of the defending champion Eagles team, who have the star power and ability to go back-to-back this season.
The main issue is the consistency of the offense. While they have looked impressive at times (a 21-point first half against the Cowboys, a 26-point frenzy in a second-half comeback against the Rams), they have failed to put together four quarters of good football. The root of the problem in many people’s eyes is offensive coordinator and playcaller Kevin Patullo. Eyebrows were raised at his promotion in April, as the former quarterbacks coach has never called plays at any level. This skepticism has been confirmed through six weeks, as the offense has just looked dormant in most of the games this season. The Eagles are in the bottom five in the league in most of the major offensive categories (yards, points per drive, punt rate), and the inconsistency of this offense is something to be truly scared of. For example, All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown has failed to eclipse 80 yards in five out of the first six games, after averaging 83 yards per game last year, even in a down year. Brown has been outspoken about his frustrations, posting cryptic tweets on his Twitter page, leading people to believe that he may want to be traded before the November 4 deadline, although I don’t see this happening, as the cap hit would be too high.
Perhaps the most concerning thing of all is the absence of star running back Saquon Barkley from the game plan week in and week out. Last season, Barkley became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, averaging an astounding 5.8 yards per carry. This season, the Eagles have failed to scheme runs open, leading to an extremely underwhelming campaign this season, with Barkley only averaging 3.2 yards per run. This is partially due to teams loading the box to counteract Barkley’s explosive potential, but it has a lot to do with playcalling. Patullo’s offense tends to tip the defense off when they are running. When the Eagles line up under center, Patullo has dialed up a run an astonishing 92% of the time. As a result, teams have been much more effective in stopping Barkley, making it difficult for the Eagles to establish their run game and set up the pass, which has led to a lack of a true identity that they desperately need.
The consistent bright spot in this offense has been quarterback Jalen Hurts. While his stats may not look too gaudy, they don’t tell the whole story. On Thursday, Hurts broke his streak of 305 consecutive attempts without an interception, the longest running streak spanning back to last season, for only his second turnover of the season. The only gripe I have with Hurts is that he tends to stand in the pocket too long, taking ill-advised sacks instead of scrambling or throwing the ball away. Hurts is an incredible leader, and his wins over stats mindset is an integral part of what is keeping this team invested, despite the early struggles.
On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense is holding down the fort with the offense’s struggles. The Eagles hit on another two rookies in April’s draft in linebacker Jihaad Campbell and safety Andrew Mukuba. Campbell, who was intended to be a short-term solution until injured veteran Nakobe Dean was healthy to come back, has made the most of his opportunities and, barring an injury, will be starting on this team all year long. Returning corners Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell have both played extremely well, with Mitchell being one of the highest-graded cornerbacks in the league through five weeks. Where it gets tricky is the corner playing opposite Mitchell. Philly has desperately tried rotating a plethora of guys into the lineup, with all of them playing extremely poorly. Cornerbacks Adoree Jackson and Keelee Ringo look completely incapable of guarding any NFL receivers, and I would look for General Manager Howie Roseman to be active in the cornerback department before the November 4th deadline.
The pass rush, a big question mark going into the year, has been extremely underwhelming. Last season, the Eagles lost pass rusher Brandon Graham to retirement, along with pass rushers Milton Williams and Josh Sweat to free agency. Superstar Jalen Carter has struggled to leave his mark on games early, ever since he was ejected on the first play of the season for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. As a result, teams have been able to run all over this defense, setting them up for long, extended drives late in games. The Eagles took another hit this week, as veteran pass rusher Zadarius Smith abruptly retired, leading people to wonder what is really going on behind the scenes.
The one-third mark of the season was pivotal last season, with the Eagles going into their week five bye with a record of 2-2. After their bye, the Eagles lost once the rest of the year, and would go on to win the Super Bowl. This stretch of their season feels similar, as the Eagles enter their easiest stretch of the season, playing the Vikings and Giants again before their week nine bye. Going into their bye 6-2 would be sure to set the Birds up for success for their grueling stretch out of the bye, facing the Packers, Lions, and Cowboys in consecutive weeks. Until that happens, Patullo remains on the hot seat and should be fired if the Eagles drop a third straight game. General Manager Howie Roseman and Head Coach Nick Sirianni will continue searching for answers.
However, despite all of these issues, the panic button remains unpressed for now. This team has the star power and skills needed to win another Super Bowl in February, and I fully anticipate them doing so. Early-season struggles will always be a factor, but we are now at the end of that “early season” period. If the Eagles cannot figure out their offense soon, Eagles fans will be in for a long second half or the season.
