A.J. Brown was asked on Dec. 8 what needed to improve in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense. He said the passing game, an honest answer that got a lot of attention and was blown out of proportion.
But Brown wasn’t wrong.
And in the wild-card round, we saw what he was talking about. And why he had time to read a book in the second half of the game. It’s not like he or any other Eagles receiver was busy in Sunday’s 22-10 win over the Green Bay Packers.
Jalen Hurts came back after missing two full games and most of a third with a concussion, and he wasn’t good. Hurts had a stretch between the final minute of the first quarter to 4:41 left in the third quarter in which he didn’t complete a pass. The Eagles’ best pass play of the game was a poor throw from Hurts that Dallas Goedert caught when it was thrown behind him at the line of scrimmage, and then he stiff-armed his way into the end zone.
The Eagles had just 121 net yards passing. Philadelphia had a very conservative game plan, but it’s not like it was executed that well either. It was OK for Philadelphia because the defense was fantastic and it beat Green Bay, but at some point in these playoffs the Eagles are going to need more than 121 passing yards to win. Given how many times Philadelphia has had quiet passing games this season — which led to Brown’s gripe more than a month ago; Philadelphia has 12 games with 210 or fewer passing yards this season — it’s fair to wonder if Hurts can turn it on when needed. And at some point, whether it’s in a tight divisional-round game against the Los Angeles Rams, or a shootout at Detroit in the NFC championship game or in a Super Bowl, Philly will need it.
Hurts is capable of it. It wasn’t that long ago that he was putting on a show and nearly lifting the Eagles to a Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. But Hurts’ production over the rest of the postseason will be the difference between Philadelphia getting back to a Super Bowl or getting knocked out early.
Here are the power rankings of the eight remaining teams left for the divisional round of the NFL playoffs:
As the NFL playoffs continue and teams gear up for the divisional round, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in a precarious position. Despite securing a playoff spot, the Eagles are facing tough competition and need their rookie quarterback, Jalen Hurts, to step up and do more if they want to make a deep playoff run.
Currently, the Eagles are ranked lower in the NFL Power Rankings compared to other playoff teams. Their offense has been inconsistent, and their defense has struggled at times. In order to compete with the likes of the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and other top teams, the Eagles will need Hurts to elevate his game.
Hurts has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, but he will need to be more consistent and make smart decisions with the football. His ability to extend plays with his legs and make plays downfield will be crucial for the Eagles’ success in the playoffs.
If Hurts can rise to the occasion and lead the Eagles to victory in the divisional round, they have a chance to surprise many and make a deep playoff run. However, if he falters, the Eagles may find themselves quickly eliminated from the postseason.
As the divisional playoffs approach, all eyes will be on Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles. Can he rise to the occasion and lead his team to victory, or will the Eagles fall short? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the Eagles need Hurts to do more if they want to compete with the best teams in the NFL.
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