Riding high atop an 11-2 record with a nine-game winning streak, a franchise first, the questions regarding their passing game are as loud as ever for the Philadelphia Eagles. Running back Saquon Barkley has been the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles offense this season. Come Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, everything will come down to quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Ground Game Dominant; Air Game Lags
Philadelphia Eagles
Oct 27, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) reacts after quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Saquon Barkley is certainly doing his part. The star running back has been the one truly bright spot in Philadelphia’s offense, breaking the team’s single-season rushing record with 1,623 yards following the gritty 22-16 win over the Panthers. But even with Barkley going supernova, the Eagles’ aerial attack hasn’t found much rhythm. And as asked after the Panthers game about what the team needs to improve, receiver A.J. Brown didn’t mince words: “Passing.”
AJ Brown on what the offense needs to improve on:
“Passing”
Says everything is fixable
Says he slammed his helmet out of frustration after a 3-and-out pic.twitter.com/iSG4MvOpt2
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 8, 2024
Brown’s frustration is fair. He wasn’t targeted until late in the second quarter and finished with only four catches for 43 yards. Hurts threw for just 108 yards on 14-of-21 passing—his lowest total since last year’s regular-season finale and the sixth time he’s been held under 200 yards this season.
The numbers paint a troubling picture. Hurts ranks 20th in the NFL in passing yards (2,602), trailing rookie quarterbacks like Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, and Caleb Williams. Philadelphia’s passing offense sits near the bottom of the league, averaging just 180.6 yards per game, better only than the New England Patriots.
Steelers Present a Stiff Challenge
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson (20) intercepts a pass in the first quarter during a Week 16 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelersl, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson (20) intercepts a pass in the first quarter during a Week 16 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelersl, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
This week, Hurts will have to find his rhythm against a very stingy Steelers defense: Pittsburgh ranks among the league’s best, allowing the seventh-fewest total yards – 310.2 – and fifth-fewest points – 18.3 – per game. What’s more concerning for the Eagles is how good the Steelers are at stuffing the run, yielding just 91.5 yards on the ground per contest – the fourth-best mark in the NFL.
The Philadelphia Eagles have leaned heavily on their league-leading ground game, averaging 190.5 rushing yards per contest, but Sunday’s matchup could force Hurts to shoulder more of the load.
The good news? Hurts has had success against the Steelers before. In their last meeting in 2022, he torched Pittsburgh’s secondary, going 19-of-28 for 285 yards and four touchdown passes in a 35-13 blowout win. That game was one of only two times in Hurts’ career where he’s thrown for four or more touchdowns.
Pittsburgh’s secondary, while solid, isn’t impenetrable, as it gives up an average of 218.6 passing yards per game. The Eagles could exploit this weakness if Hurts can recapture the magic from their previous matchup.
A Crucial Test for Hurts and the Eagles
Jalen Hurts
Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Sunday’s game at Lincoln Financial Field isn’t just another regular-season contest. It’s a statement opportunity for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ passing attack. With the Steelers presenting a formidable defense and the NFC East race tightening, Hurts must prove he can rise when it matters most.
The final stretch for the Eagles includes games against NFC East foes, but none have the same level of difficulty that Pittsburgh presents this week. How Hurts performs could be the difference between a 10-game winning streak and their third-season loss.
The Eagles’ continued dominance will require more than Saquon Barkley. Now is the time for Jalen Hurts to shut up his critics, take over the offense, and show why he is the quarterback who can take Philadelphia all the way.
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