On Thursday Night Football, the Philadelphia Eagles traveled to New Jersey to face off against their NFC East rival, the New York Giants, in a highly anticipated divisional matchup. The Giants entered the contest with a disappointing 1–4 record, desperate to turn their season around. They handed the keys of the offense to rookie first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart, who was making just the third start of his young NFL career. For Philadelphia, the focus was less on their opponent and more on themselves — and the swirling drama that had emerged over the week.
Photo Cred: Bleacher Report
Coming off their first loss of the season to the Denver Broncos, the Eagles found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Reports surfaced suggesting growing tension within the locker room, particularly between quarterback Jalen Hurts and his star wide receivers. A.J. Brown, who has voiced frustration with Hurts’ decision-making in the past, was once again rumored to be unhappy with his quarterback’s play. Making matters worse, a new report claimed that DeVonta Smith — normally reserved and diplomatic — has also grown increasingly frustrated behind closed doors.
Although the Eagles organization quickly dismissed those reports as “media speculation,” the optics on Thursday night did little to quiet the noise. Cameras caught Brown and Smith sitting side-by-side on the sideline during the second quarter, appearing to vent their frustrations toward one another. Their animated body language said what words could not: there’s a real disconnect brewing in Philadelphia’s offense.
At the center of it all is Jalen Hurts, who despite his impressive résumé — an MVP-caliber 2022 season and a Super Bowl appearance — continues to face criticism for his inconsistent play. Hurts’ struggles with accuracy and ball placement, particularly on deep throws, have become a major concern. According to league stats, he’s completing just 35% of his passes traveling 10 or more air yards, ranking 30th in the NFL. Those numbers are far from acceptable for a team with one of the most talented receiving tandems in football.
Hurts’ downfield woes were on full display in the first half against New York. On a crucial second-quarter play, he missed a wide-open DeVonta Smith streaking downfield on what could have been a 90-yard touchdown, overthrowing him by several yards. The misfire not only left potential points on the field but also reignited ongoing questions about Hurts’ confidence in his deep ball — and his timing with his star receivers.
But the quarterback isn’t the only one under scrutiny. Much of the blame for Philadelphia’s offensive stagnation has fallen on first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who has yet to establish a clear identity or rhythm for the unit. Compared to last year’s dynamic system under Kellen Moore — who departed for the head coaching job in New Orleans this offseason — the Eagles’ offense now looks disjointed and overly predictable.
In many ways, this season feels like déjà vu for Philadelphia fans. Just two years ago, after losing offensive mastermind Shane Steichen to Indianapolis, the team promoted Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator. The result was an offense that lacked creativity, rhythm, and balance — and Johnson was fired after one season. Now, with Patullo at the helm, the same concerns are resurfacing. Insiders around the league have already begun speculating that the Eagles’ front office, known for its aggressiveness and win-now mentality, could make another bold move if the offense doesn’t improve soon — possibly even midseason.
Still, the reality is that even with Patullo’s questionable play-calling, there have been opportunities for Hurts to make key throws this season — and he simply hasn’t executed. Whether it’s hesitation, poor timing, or mechanical inconsistency, Hurts has struggled to deliver the type of precision passing that once made him one of the NFL’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks.
Photo Cred: New York Giants
The Eagles’ defense, on the other hand, continues to play at a championship level, often bailing out the offense with timely stops and turnovers. That unit remains the backbone of the team, masking many of the offensive inefficiencies that have plagued them early in the year. But even a dominant defense can’t compensate forever.
The Eagles ultimately escaped MetLife Stadium with a win, improving to 5–1, but the victory did little to quiet the growing concerns surrounding their offense and locker room chemistry. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the margin for error is slim — and if the disconnect between Hurts, his receivers, and his coordinator continues, the cracks in Philadelphia’s foundation could grow into something much bigger.
