Following the Eagles’ disappointing 33-16 loss to the Buccaneers, it’s easy to react with frustration towards the team and its performance. This defeat feels particularly significant, not merely as an isolated incident but as part of a troubling trend that seems to have carried over from their previous season. The 2024 Eagles appear to be struggling with the same issues that plagued them in 2023, raising alarms about their overall trajectory.

Since their crushing 42-19 defeat to the 49ers back on December 3rd, the Eagles have experienced a troubling pattern, being outscored 310-218 over the last 11 games, averaging a loss margin of 28-20. Despite the hiring of new coordinators like Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio, the performance on both sides of the ball seems alarmingly similar. Key players like A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Lane Johnson have been sidelined due to injuries, severely impacting their offensive capabilities. Additionally, the quarterback is struggling with turnovers at an alarming rate, while the defense seems ill-equipped to handle the complexities of modern NFL offenses.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that there are mitigating factors at play. The team’s travel schedule has been particularly grueling over the past four weeks, including an international opener in Brazil, a Monday night matchup, a short week traveling to New Orleans, and another challenging game in Tampa’s oppressive heat. These extenuating circumstances should not be overlooked. Nevertheless, there are significant concerns regarding various aspects of the team as they head into their early-season bye. Below, I will outline my levels of concern on a scale from 0-10, with 0 being the least concerning and 10 being the most alarming.

Evaluating Nick Sirianni’s Leadership – Concern Level: 9

When there are issues with the head coach, it becomes increasingly challenging to assess the performance of the entire team. The influence of a coach on a team’s dynamics is undeniable.

Consider the 2022 Phillies as a case in point. Under Joe Girardi, the team struggled to connect, facing poor in-game decisions and a dismal 22-29 start to the season after two lackluster years. His dismissal led to Rob Thomson stepping in, which transformed the locker room atmosphere. Players felt rejuvenated, communication improved, and the veterans fostered an environment conducive to success.

While I’m not suggesting Sirianni should be let go during the bye week, his impact on the team is evident. Currently, it appears that some players, notably the quarterback, may lack confidence in Sirianni’s ability to guide them back to a level of competitiveness.

The Eagles were clearly unprepared for the game on Sunday in every aspect. There was a noticeable lack of effort, and the offense struggled to find any rhythm or cohesion. Without A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, there was no viable alternative strategy. Sirianni didn’t even have the opportunity to make a critical fourth down call in Tampa, as the score quickly ballooned to 24-0 before the team had a chance to regroup. Although he has reportedly ceded control of the offense to Kellen Moore, it appears that Moore is merely executing a modified version of Sirianni’s original offense.

As long as Sirianni remains in charge, the new coordinators will likely find their influence limited. The players may continue to harbor doubts about their ability to win, leading them to press too hard in crucial moments. A new head coach could potentially revitalize everything we’re witnessing, but there’s also a chance that things may not improve.

Assessing Jalen Hurts’ Performance – Concern Level: 6.5

After the conclusion of Super Bowl 57, I was convinced that Jalen Hurts was the long-term solution at quarterback for the Eagles. However, my confidence has begun to waver.

Hurts possesses the ability to make significant plays and typically delivers a beautiful ball, threading it into tight windows and connecting with receivers on the run. When he’s performing at his best, he’s extremely difficult to defeat, and his relentless drive keeps the hope of victory alive, even in challenging situations. Yet, there are concerning aspects of his game that have not seen improvement since last season.

His turnover issues are well-documented at this point. Hurts has either thrown an interception or lost a fumble in nine consecutive games, accumulating more turnovers (seven total: four interceptions and three fumbles) than touchdowns (six: four passing and two rushing). While he appears to be running more effectively this year, the absence of A.J. Brown for three out of the first four games presents a significant challenge. Additionally, Hurts continues to struggle with pocket awareness and decision-making—issues that ideally should have been resolved by now.

Some of these problems may stem from coaching; however, I’m increasingly skeptical that Hurts will rediscover the level of play we witnessed in 2022. While I still regard him as a talented quarterback, we haven’t seen substantial growth in crucial areas over the past two seasons.

He must develop trust in targets beyond Brown and Smith. His lack of faith in other receiving options is detrimental to the team’s overall performance. Hurts needs to operate within the framework of the offense. It’s essential that he stops trying to do too much and instead takes what the defense gives him. As a quarterback with a $50 million contract, his current play resembles that of someone still finding their footing in the NFL. This aspect of his game must change.

Evaluating the Offense’s Effectiveness – Concern Level: 4

That said, it’s challenging to accurately assess this offense when arguably the best wide receiver duo and the top right tackle in the game are sidelined. While they should have performed better during Sunday’s game, when at full strength, this offense has the potential to move the ball effectively. Brown’s absence is a significant loss, and it’s unreasonable to expect the same level of performance without him.

We are still waiting for this offense to show significant improvement compared to last year’s performance, raising questions about how much influence Sirianni continues to exert over Moore’s game plan. Yes, there is movement on the field, but is it sufficient? What purpose does it serve? How effective is it? It seems that Sirianni hasn’t fully allowed Kellen Moore to implement his strategies.

Despite these challenges, the offensive line has performed admirably with Cam Jurgens at center. Mekhi Becton has also been a standout performer. Saquon Barkley has emerged as the team’s MVP in the early weeks, and we even witnessed a resurgence from Dallas Goedert in Week 3. They’ve shown some improvement against blitz packages, although they still have room for growth.

I believe this offense will score points on most occasions, but we can expect some rough outings along the way as well.

Building a Positive Team Culture – Concern Level: 9

Creating a positive locker room atmosphere is relatively easy when a team is winning (unless you’re referring to the first half of the 2023 Eagles’ season), but when adversity strikes, younger players look to their leaders for guidance on how to respond. If young players are observing veterans like Brandon Graham, they are likely to remain grounded, but recent comments from Hurts and cornerback Darius Slay have raised concerns.

During his post-game interview, Hurts was asked whether he and Sirianni, as team leaders, collaborate on a unified vision and message to help the team navigate difficult times. Hurts’ answer was telling: “We have our moments.”

This reflects a pattern of puzzling remarks by Hurts regarding his head coach.

This is a significant issue.

While Sirianni and Hurts don’t need to be best friends, they must find a way to coexist effectively and authentically. Sirianni seems to be making an effort to avoid publicly criticizing Hurts, while Hurts appears to be sidestepping any positive remarks about his head coach.

The current state of affairs is simply not sustainable.

Additionally, team captain Darius Slay reacted defensively to criticism of his performance on social media, listing his accomplishments to remind fans of “his greatness,” before later deleting the tweet and apologizing to Eagles fans. He also recently appeared on Micah Parsons’ podcast, where he made light of some of the comments made by CJGJ in recent weeks.

CJGJ’s response on social media…

For a team that finished the 2023 season with a dismal 1-7 record and is struggling to find its footing in 2024, especially on defense, this drama is counterproductive. If anyone doubts that this turmoil is affecting on-field performance, they are mistaken.

Assessing Vic Fangio’s Defensive Strategy – Concern Level: 8

Consider the last time a defense influenced by Vic Fangio achieved any success against an 11-personnel offensive lineup. Was it the Dolphins in Week 7 last year under Sean Desai? The defense performed admirably against a more physical New Orleans offense recently, but when faced with three wide receivers and soft coverage, this scheme was once again exposed.

In 2022, Jonathan Gannon’s defensive approach thrived largely because the front four was on the verge of breaking the all-time sack record. This current unit is not achieving that level of success, and without consistent pressure from the front four, quarterbacks can exploit a passive, bend-but-break defense all day long. It took Fangio three series to acknowledge that Tampa was adopting a quick-throw game plan. By the time he adjusted, it was far too late.

This defense struggles with pursuit and tackling, and there’s inconsistent performance from nearly every player on the field. Perhaps most concerning is that none of the younger players are showing improvement. The Eagles seem to lack the personnel to execute this defensive scheme effectively, and even if they did, there is mounting evidence that the league has evolved past this style of defense. I lack confidence that this system can turn things around.

Evaluating the Defensive Line’s Performance – Concern Level: 8.5

To expand on my previous point, Bryce Huff has recorded only one tackle and one assisted tackle in his first four games as Haason Reddick’s replacement at EDGE. Nolan Smith, a former first-round pick, has been virtually invisible. Josh Sweat has also been notably absent. The most effective edge rusher on this team is the 36-year-old Brandon Graham.

Jalen Carter had a standout performance against the Saints in Week 3 but then seemed to vanish against the Buccaneers. Jordan Davis has been largely uninvolved, providing little impact.

There don’t appear to be any immediate solutions to these issues, other than hoping the talent of the players on the field finally emerges. However, I am not holding my breath.

Analyzing Howie Roseman’s Impact as GM – Concern Level: 5

Overall, Roseman has done a commendable job as the team’s general manager. While it’s difficult to criticize his recent draft choices, even if they are not panning out as expected, his decisions during the offseason in free agency and trades have yielded mixed results.

There may have been more happening behind the scenes than we realize, but swapping Reddick for Huff could potentially become a season-altering blunder. Trading a third-round pick for Jahan Dotson now seems like a significant error. CJGJ has returned to Philadelphia underwhelmingly, and the decision to re-sign Avonte Maddox appears ill-advised, with the Devin White situation becoming increasingly perplexing, reminiscent of last season’s Rashaad Penny signing.

On a positive note, he struck gold with the acquisitions of Barkley and Zach Baun, which deserve recognition. It’s also challenging to fault Roseman for drafting Davis, Carter, Smith in the first round, or Dean in the third round, as all those picks were universally praised at the time. Regardless of how these players are currently performing, they were sound decisions at the time, and Roseman was right to entrust the defense to these young, early-round draft picks. It’s imperative that these players step up, but some of the accountability must also lie with the coaching staff, whose responsibility it is to develop players and position them for success.

All in all, this Eagles team appears likely to secure a playoff spot, either as a wild card or a weaker division winner. However, the path to the Super Bowl seems distant for this current lineup.