Philadelphia Eagles Grind Out Victory Over Carolina Panthers
This past week, the Philadelphia Eagles extended their winning streak to an impressive nine games, overcoming the Carolina Panthers with a hard-fought 22-16 victory. While the Eagles' record continues to impress, their latest performance prompted introspection from both players and coaches as they notched another triumph despite lackluster passing numbers.
In a game dominated by ground attacks, the Eagles racked up an impressive 209 rushing yards against Carolina's already beleaguered defense. The Panthers, who have struggled against passing offenses all season, ranked 24th in pass yardage allowed and 27th in net yards per pass attempt. Yet, it was Philadelphia's ground game that proved decisive as they continued their relentless march towards the postseason.
However, the Eagles' aerial attack left much to be desired. Quarterback Jalen Hurts managed only 108 passing yards at an average of 5.1 yards per attempt. This performance highlighted ongoing concerns, as Hurts ranks last in passing yards among quarterbacks with two starts in the past two games. His inability to connect on deep throws was evident, with only two completions on six attempts for passes traveling beyond 10 air yards, garnering a passer rating of 59.0 in such situations.
Despite these challenges, Hurts remains a versatile weapon in Philadelphia’s arsenal. Over the past two games, he has tallied five total touchdowns—three through the air and two on the ground. Furthermore, his overall passer rating stood at 102.7 on 40 attempts, a testament to his dual-threat capability.
“We can do a lot better,” acknowledged receiver DeVonta Smith, voicing the sentiment of the Eagles' passing unit. “Pass game we can be a lot better… We didn't play up to our standard.” His frustration was echoed by fellow receiver A.J. Brown, who was blunt in his assessment: “Passing. What we did today is not good enough. It won't help us.”
Nevertheless, the Eagles have found ways to succeed even when parts of their game falter. Throughout their nine-game winning streak, Hurts has contributed an impressive 23 total touchdowns, compared to just two giveaways, illustrating his role in Philadelphia’s offense. His passer rating during this period stands at 113.7, ranking him fourth in the NFL. Hurts has also been remarkably effective on deeper throws over this stretch, achieving a passer rating of 126.0 for passes beyond ten air yards.
For Hurts, the key remains teamwork and cohesion. “Winning is the main thing,” he remarked. His approach emphasizes unity: “It isn't about solving anything. Everybody has a reason to want more. It's a fair desire of being in fullness to where we can be because we've done it before. Just got to build, got to progress. Have to find a way to come together and synch as a unit and play complementary ball.”
On the defensive side, the Eagles displayed resilience, holding the Panthers to just 16 points. The team’s ability to adapt and overcome offensive inefficiencies has been a hallmark of their success. However, lineman Jordan Mailata underlined the necessity of learning from missteps, both individually and collectively: “We have to put our pride aside and take coaching. That is the form of accountability we harp on a lot. So that's what we have to do. We have to put our pride aside, admit your mistake, learn from it, and don't repeat it. And learn from others' mistakes.”
The Eagles' unparalleled winning streak speaks volumes about their resilience and adaptability, yet the performance against Carolina laid bare areas ripe for improvement. As they advance deeper into the season, an enhanced and more cohesive passing game could be crucial to determining their long-term success. While the challenges are apparent, a collective focus on accountability and growth continues to drive Philadelphia forward as they stand on the cusp of postseason glory.