It was a tumultuous week in Philadelphia despite the Eagles riding a nine-game winning streak. After a shaky performance against the Panthers, there was frustration about the offense. While Saquon Barkley did his thing, the passing attack lacked its usual dynamism. This led to AJ Brown lashing out about the lack of rhythm in the offense. The incident has created a big distraction as the team prepares for a pivotal matchup with the Steelers.
Eagles Endure Dramatic Week
Run First Team
The Eagles offense has one of the most run-heavy units in the league. They lead the league in rushing yards while sitting second to last in passing yards. While this has led to winning, it is easy to see why the Eagles receivers are frustrated. AJ Brown is one of the most unique weapons in the NFL and is well aware of his importance to the team. Devonta Smith is also an upper-echelon receiver in the sport. Both players are good enough to be the focal point of many offenses around the league. However, with the arrival of Saquon Barkley, who has a chance to set the single-season rushing record, they have had to take a backseat.
However, it is not the best look for Brown to be complaining about his role during a nine-game winning streak. This led to veteran defensive end Brandon Graham making comments about a potential feud between Brown and Jalen Hurts. This drama has managed to take all the headlines away from the Eagles massive game with the Steelers and the team’s nine-game winning streak. However, if the Eagles want to win the Super Bowl, Brown and Hurts need to be on the same page.
Potential Solutions
While this situation has created drama, it is nowhere near unfixable. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore should look for ways to get Brown the ball early and often on Sunday. With Brown’s ability to get open and his yards after the catch prowess, it should not be hard to get him the ball. Manufacturing touches and matchups is a great way to get a star player going. It keeps them engaged while giving defenses new looks. While they have been winning, the passing offense must improve for the Eagles to be Super Bowl caliber. Teams are going to crowd the line of scrimmage in order to stop Saquon, and the passing game needs to take advantage of that. Kellen Moore is going to have to dial up some high-level passing concepts.
However, Jalen Hurts also needs to play better than he has the last few weeks. He has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in each of his last three games. While he has only thrown around 20 times a game in that span, there have not been many explosive passing plays. For the offense to be more balanced, Hurts needs to play at a higher level and find ways to create explosive plays. Hurts will never be a Joe Burrow style drop-back passer who throws 40 times a game, but he needs to connect with Brown on more big plays. Despite the winning streak, the passing game leaves a lot to be desired, and that is why AJ Brown lashed out.
Main Photo: [Bill Streicher] – USA Today Sports
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