In a challenging matchup against Tampa Bay, the Philadelphia Eagles delivered one of their least impressive performances in recent memory. Following the game, quarterback Jalen Hurts addressed reporters, taking full responsibility for the team’s offensive struggles. His candid remarks reflect a commitment to improvement and accountability within the squad.

“I believe in general, I just need to play better. I gotta play much better. I have a lot of chances to lead the offense and really play free ball, which starts with me on that side of the ball. I need to come down, as we did, and assist the defense — performing, communicating, you know, the things I’m seeing on the field, and just trying to really create the momentum we need to reach the end zone.”

“It starts with me regarding getting into the end zone, leading drives, and I didn’t do a sufficient job with that.”

When questioned about the impact of missing key players like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Hurts remained focused on his performance, emphasizing that he fell short of expectations. He noted the extensive preparation the team undertook during the week with the available players, highlighting the trust they placed in each other to execute successfully on game day.

Discussing a pivotal moment in the game, Hurts mentioned a strip sack that prevented a potential big play to Grant Calcaterra down the middle. He acknowledged that had they managed to secure the ball, they could have capitalized on a significant opportunity, but unfortunately, time constraints hindered their chances.

When asked about the team’s lack of first-quarter scoring this season, Hurts simply stated, “I gotta start fast. I gotta play better.” His acknowledgment of the need for a quicker start reflects his understanding of the importance of establishing momentum early in games.

As the team approaches their bye week, Hurts expressed his intention to review the first four games of the season critically. He aims to identify areas for improvement, particularly in enhancing his production, protecting the football, and effectively driving the offense to score points.

In his message to the team after the game, Hurts emphasized the necessity of perseverance. He reminded his teammates that, despite facing various challenges, it is crucial to continue learning from these experiences. While this theme has been reiterated after each game, Hurts believes they have grown as a cohesive unit and must keep capitalizing on every opportunity for development.

Hurts also mentioned that many players are still in the process of discovering their identities within the team, highlighting that the Eagles are collectively working to figure that out as the season progresses.

“I think it’s challenging when you’ve had different moving pieces throughout this. So, given the opportunities you have, it’s truly a ‘so what, now what’ mentality, and that’s the approach that I’ve had. I just don’t think I’ve been good enough in those areas — there isn’t a doubt about anyone that steps on that field in terms of opportunity. Gotta give guys opportunities and put them in positions to be successful, and I have to play my part out there and distribute the ball.”

The ‘so what, now what’ mindset was also echoed by head coach Nick Sirianni earlier in the week, drawing inspiration from his son’s baseball coach regarding how to handle adversity. This indicates that despite ongoing speculation about their working relationship, Hurts is receptive to Sirianni’s guidance and philosophy.

When asked whether he and Sirianni would meet to discuss strategies during the bye week as they prepare for the second half of the season, Hurts succinctly replied:

“We have our moments.”