Five reasons why the Eagles flamed out  

The Philadelphia Eagles were the rage of the 2022 NFL season. Behind the stellar play of quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Eagles took that next step to becoming the next darlings of the National Football League. 

But alas, the memory bank is short and the league is about what have you done for me lately. The Eagles, in case you missed it, just completely flamed out after going 10-1 after starting the 2023 season where they left off. That is being a dominant team on both sides of the ball. 

Last season, Hurts and the Eagles kicked butts and took names, all the way up to Super Bowl LVII, where they came up just short of knocking off Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs off their championship perch. 

In fact, for most of Super Bowl LVII, Hurts and the Eagles looked like they were the superior team. If not for a late defensive pass interference penalty, perhaps it would have been the Eagles being anointed the reigning Super Bowl champions. 

As it was, Hurts and the Eagles gave Mahomes and the Chiefs a tremendous battle before falling 38-35 in one of the most exciting Super Bowl games in a very, very long time. That’s neither here nor there now for Hurts and his Philadelphia teammates. 

That’s because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially canceled their season with a 32-9 win in an NFL Wild Card game. This outcome should not come as a surprise for folks who understand the language of sport and competition. No matter how great the competitor is you just can’t slide your way into postseason prosperity. The laws of nature don’t work that way. 

It’s only fitting that Hurts and the Eagles would get embarrassed on national television in their final game of the season. Hurts and the Eagles have played like garbage for weeks now. They deserved the butt-whipping the Buccaneers handed to them. Now go home and regroup and figure things out. 

Retired. Eagles center Jason Kelce calls it quits following Philadelphia getting worked and losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 32-9, in a Wild Card playoff game.

Photo by Mark Hammond #EaglesNation pic.twitter.com/kYJ5ccMbG1

— Dennis J. Freeman (@DennisJFreeman) January 16, 2024

Here are five reasons why the Eagles imploded. 

DEFENSE 

Against Tampa Bay, Philadelphia could not stop water if they had to. Tackling became a lost art for the Eagles against the Buccaneers. The Eagles gave up 426 yards in total offense to the Buccaneers. This game was only symbolic of how the defensive unit of the Eagles played this season. Last year, the Eagles defense produced 70 sacks. Philadelphia could only muster 43 sacks in 2023. And for good measure, the Eagles had the No. 2 defense in the regular season in 2022. In 2023, Philadelphia plummeted to 26th in the league. What a fall.  

JALEN HURTS 

For whatever reason, Hurts was not the same dude who took the NFL by storm with his breakout season in 2022. Yes, we know that Hurts was banged up with various ailments and injuries he was fighting through. However, if you’re going to be THAT GUY, that means you have to step up even when no one else can or is willing to do it. That’s why quarterbacks get paid the big bucks. 

Hurts failed to elevate himself and his teammates to turn it up another notch. Against Tampa Bay, Hurts rushed one time for five yards. Why waste everybody’s time trying to be a pocket quarterback? Hurts didn’t use his legs enough to alter or break down an opponent’s game, especially against the Buccaneers.  

COACHING

Well, what can you say? It speaks volumes when your team goes into the tank in the last part of the season and then your squad gets worked in the first game of the playoffs. It’s clear that while Hurts flourished under the current Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen, he has gone into a bland type of quarterback. 

Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson has turned Hurts into another version of the Statue of Liberty. Even a 45-year-old Tom Brady had more mobility than what Hurts showed in 2023. And this leads us to Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni. After their debilitating flameout, the blame has to fall squarely on the shoulders of Sirianni. It almost feels like the Eagles quit on their head coach.     

RUN GAME

Where the heck did Philadelphia’s run game disappear to? The Eagles turned Hurts into a one-trick pony, effectively cutting off their stealth running attack that guided them to Super Bowl LVII. In 2022, Eagles had the fifth-best rushing attack in the NFL (2,590 yards). There was some slippage in 2023 when Philadelphia dropped to the No. 8 slot in running the football as a team (2,190 yards).     

This deficiency was noticeably glaring against the Buccaneers. The Eagles recorded just 42 yards running the football against Tampa Bay. When you produce a running attack like that you deserve to get bounced from the postseason. And your super-mobile quarterback cannot just run the football one time for five yards. What is that? Has Hurts gone too cool? 

COMPLACENCY 

It’s easy to let a Super Bowl appearance go to your head. Endorsement deals increase and they begin to take up valuable decision-making. Everyone’s pulling at you. The Eagles never did play with the same edge as they played with in 2022. This group never looked or played hungry. 
It was more like they felt entitled. It showed on the football field. The Eagles played the game as if the red carpet was supposed to continue to roll out for them. And now, until proven otherwise, Hurts and the Eagles are just another one-hit wonder.