NFL News: Are the Eagles in Panic Mode?

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Dominant Start

After last season’s Superbowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Eagles had one thing on their mind: redemption. In the first 11 games of the season, the Eagles looked ready to make another run at the Lombardi trophy. They won 10 out of the first 11 games. Many of those games were close, but the Eagles knew how to finish. However, that momentum has left the Eagles nest.

Current 3-Game Losing Streak

The Eagles have hit a roadblock this season. They have lost three consecutive games to the San Fransico 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Seattle Seahawks. Two of those games have been blowouts, where they have lost by 20+ points.

What Has Gone Wrong?

Three glaring issues are haunting the Eagles in this losing streak. The run defense, lack of forced turnovers, and turnovers committed.

Abysmal Run Defense

The Eagles have allowed a combined 384 yards through the ground in the last three games. Each team has run over 100 yards against the Eagles. To put things in perspective, in the first nine games of the season, the Eagles allowed a team to get over 100 rushing yards only one time—a complete turnaround.

No Ball Hawks

Another aspect that the Eagles need help with is the need for turnovers by their defense. In the past three games, the Eagles have only forced one turnover. In the season’s first three games, the same Eagles defense caused opposing offenses to turn the ball over six times! An average of 2 turnovers per game. The ball is not swinging the Eagles’ way anymore.

Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers

Last but not least is the turnovers committed by the Eagles’ offense. The Eagles have turned the ball over five times during the three-game losing streak. The Eagles have struggled to hold onto the ball. In the loss against Dallas, they fumbled the ball three times! A few of them occurred in the red zone. In addition to fumbles, Jalen Hurts has been careless with the ball compared to last

season. Against the Seahawks, Hurts threw two interceptions, including the game-sealing one that gave Seattle the win. In the 2022 Superbowl run, Hurts only threw six interceptions. He has doubled that number, and three games remain in the regular season.

The Big Three In The NFC

Besides the Eagles, three other teams in the NFC stand out from the pack. On one hand, you have the dominant 49ers, who have demolished two other heavyweights in the NFC. The 49ers are currently the number one seed in the NFC at 11-3. They hold the position of a top-scoring offense in the NFL. They average 30.4 points per game. They are in the NFL’s top 3 for rushing and passing yards. They also hold the top 2 scoring defenses in the NFL, where opponents only average 16.1 points per game. The 49ers are an absolute juggernaut in the NFC.

On the other hand, you have the Dallas Cowboys. Currently, the Cowboys are the 2nd seed in the NFC with a record of 10-4. Like the 49ers, the Cowboys have both a top-scoring offense and a scoring defense. They average 30.8 points per game, which is only behind the Miami Dolphins. On defense, they’re top 5, where their opponents only score an average of 18.9 points.

The most surprising NFC contender has been the Detroit Lions. The Lions hold the third seed in the NFC with a record of 10-4. After years of being mediocre, Detroit has finally put out a good football team. The Lions live and die by their offense. The Lions are a top-five scoring offense in the league at 27.3 points per game, and most of it comes from their dominant rushing attack. The Lions averaged 140.9 yards on the ground, only behind Baltimore for first. Their passing offense is 4th in the NFL, with an average of 253.5 yards through the air.

The road to the Super Bowl will not be easy for the Eagles.