The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense is stuck in a regression, with 16 touchdowns in the first six games matching last year’s tally, while the defense is showing bright spots like Marcus Epps’ return.
Offense Still in the Same Place
Through six games in 2024, the Eagles have 16 touchdowns, exactly the same number the team had in the first six games of 2023. Third‑down conversion rates are almost identical: 34.6 percent in 2023 and 34.7 percent in 2024. The red‑zone success rate has jumped from 52 percent to 87 percent, but the points per game have slipped from an average of 22.3 to 21.3. Turnovers dropped from eight last year to three this season.
The 2023 offense, led by rookie play‑caller Kellen Moore, surged after a rough start. By mid‑season, the team was scoring 36 points per game in the playoffs, the sixth‑highest postseason average ever. In contrast, the 2024 offense has averaged only 16.2 points per game in the last five games, the lowest five‑game total since 2012. With four games left, the team has not yet found a formula that keeps it competitive.
Rare 400‑Yard Games and a Long‑Running Low‑Scoring Streak
The Eagles have had only one game this year with at least 400 total yards, the second game against the Giants. In Nick Sirianni’s first four seasons, the team had 25 such games. The last time the Eagles had one or fewer 400‑yard games in a full season was 1999, when they had none in Andy Reid’s first year.
The streak of five consecutive games with 21 or fewer points is the longest since an eight‑game streak in 2005.
Adoree’ Jackson’s Late‑Season Surge
Adoree’ Jackson’s two best games of the year came in the last two weeks. Against the Bears and the Chargers, he was targeted nine times, allowed five completions for 39 yards, and recorded his first interception in two years on a pass from Justin Herbert. His opposing passer rating was 56.2 versus the Bears – the lowest this season – and 30.4 versus the Chargers, the lowest since a game against the Giants in 2023 and the fourth‑lowest of his eight‑year career.
Over the last two weeks, Jackson’s defensive passer rating of 26.9 is the sixth‑lowest among 86 corners who have been targeted at least five times. His yards per target allowed, 4.3, ranks 18th best.
Three Eagles or former Eagles are among the top 15 corners in the league for opposing passer rating: Quinyon Mitchell (eighth, 62.7), Rasul Douglas (tenth, 67.6) and Josh Jobe (thirteenth, 69.5).
Rasul Douglas: A Career‑Long Impact
Rasul Douglas, now in his ninth season and first with the Dolphins, was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after picking off a pass for the second week in a row. Two weeks ago he intercepted Tyler Shough in the Dolphins’ 21‑17 win over the Saints; the previous week he intercepted Brady Cook in the Dolphins’ win over the Jets. Douglas, the Eagles’ 2017 third‑round pick, now has 19 career interceptions, the most by any Eagles draft pick since Jordan Poyer’s 24 in 2013. Douglas has played for seven teams – Eagles, Panthers, Raiders, Texans, Packers, Bills and Dolphins – and his interceptions have come across multiple defenses.
Douglas’s interception against the Jets came on a pass intended for John Metchie, who began the season with the Eagles.
Marcus Epps: From Injured Reserve to Starter
Marcus Epps missed the last 15 weeks of 2023 with the Raiders and played only seven snaps in the first 15 weeks of 2024. After being on injured reserve, he returned on Monday night and played “terrific football.” He began his career as a sixth‑round pick with the Vikings in 2019, was claimed by the Eagles, and started all 17 games at safety for the 2022 Super Bowl team. After two years with the Raiders, the Patriots signed him in March and released him in August. The Eagles brought him back, spent the first part of the season on the practice squad and injured reserve, and finally gave him a start after Drew Mukuba’s injury and Sydney Brown’s struggles.
Epps has been given a chance to start the rest of the season. If the performance continues, the Eagles might re‑sign him, setting a foundation for a 2026 safety lineup of Mukuba and Epps.
Tight‑End Records and Ertz’s Injury
On Oct. 4, 2020, George Kittle had 15 catches on 15 targets for 183 yards in the 49ers’ 25‑20 loss to the Eagles in Santa Clara. The Eagles have not allowed a 100‑yard performance by a tight end in 93 regular‑season games since. Kittle’s 183 yards are the most ever by a tight end against the Eagles, eight more than Taz Anderson’s 175 in the 1962 win over the Eagles. The most yards a tight end has had in a regular‑season game against the Eagles since Kittle is Jake Ferguson’s 91 in 2023. Zach Ertz had 104 yards in the NFC Championship Game. The last tight end with 100 yards against the Eagles in a regular‑season game at Lincoln was Washington’s Jordan Reed, who had 129 in a 38‑24 win in 2015.
Ertz, an all‑time Eagle, suffered a catastrophic knee injury last week in Washington’s loss to the Vikings. At 35, he is 10th among all NFL tight ends with 50 catches this year, giving him 825 career catches, 5th‑most ever by a tight end behind Tony Gonzalez (1,325), Jason Witten (1,228), Travis Kelce (1,064) and Antonio Gates (955). Only five tight ends have more 50‑catch seasons than Ertz’s nine, and only six have more 500‑yard seasons than his nine.
Ertz had 579 catches as an Eagle and needs 11 more to pass Harold Carmichael for the Eagles receiving record.
Brett Toth: The Unheralded Interior Lineman
Brett Toth, a 29‑year‑old undrafted free agent, has become the Eagles’ top interior backup. After nine releases by three teams, he has played nearly 300 snaps in eight games this season, filling in for Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens. Pro Football Focus ranks him 15th of 124 interior linemen who have played at least 200 snaps, ahead of Dickerson, Jurgens and Tyler Steen.
Toth’s performance has been consistent, and he has shown he can play when called upon.
Running‑Back Records and Shady’s Comment
Saquon Barkley has 2,886 rushing yards over the last two years and needs 41 more to set an Eagles record for most rushing yards over a two‑year span. LeSean McCoy had 2,926 in 2013 and 2014. Other two‑year leaders: Brian Westbrook (2,550 in 2006‑07), Ricky Watters (2,684 in 1995‑96) and Wilbert Montgomery (2,712 in 1978‑79).
Shady released a video on the Speakeasy podcast where he said he would leave the Eagles Hall of Fame if Kevin Patullo returned in 2026. He stated, “If he’s back, I’m leaving the Eagles. I’m going to say, ‘Mr. Lurie, it’s either me or Kevin.’ If Kevin is not fired, put 25 back out there on the street. Give the kicker my number if Kevin is still there.”
Andy Reid’s Coaching Philosophy
Andy Reid once told the author that he never hired friends as assistant coaches because he never wanted to have to fire them. The 1999 staff produced eight future NFL head coaches, but Reid did not know those individuals. Reid also noted that Kevin Patullo would not return as offensive coordinator in 2026, and that the Eagles might consider hiring Brian Daboll, who has experience as an offensive coordinator with the Bills and a connection to Saquon Barkley.
Defensive Interceptions
With four games left, edge rusher Jalyx Hunt is tied with safety Drew Mukuba for the Eagles interception lead, each with two. Mukuba is likely out for the rest of the season, giving Hunt a chance to become the first Eagles defensive lineman to lead the team in interceptions in 76 years. In the 1949 NFL Championship season, defensive end Dick Humbert led the Eagles with seven interceptions in 11 games.
Eagles cornerbacks had no interceptions in the 2023 regular season and only two this year – one each by Cooper DeJean and Adoree’ Jackson. The last Eagles corner with four interceptions in a season was Patrick Robinson in 2017; the last with five was Brandon Boykin, who had six in 2013. Since 2019, Eagles corners have recorded 21 interceptions in 113 games. The last outside corner with five interceptions in a season was Asante Samuel, who had seven in 2010.
Jalen Hurts’ Interception Record
Jalen Hurts has played 99 career games and has never thrown multiple interceptions in back‑to‑back games. The last Eagles quarterback to throw two or more interceptions in consecutive games was Carson Wentz, who had two each against Washington, the Rams and the Bengals early in 2020. Wentz and Ron Jaworski are the only Eagles quarterbacks to throw multiple interceptions in three straight games.
Key Takeaways
- The Eagles’ offense remains in the same place it was in 2023, with 16 touchdowns in six games and a slight dip in points per game.
- The defense has found new contributors, notably Marcus Epps and Rasul Douglas, and the team is tying for the interception lead.
- The team’s historical records on tight ends and running backs remain close, with Ertz and Barkley near milestones.
The season continues to test the Eagles’ resilience. While the offense struggles to find a rhythm, the defense’s bright spots offer hope for the remainder of the season.
Closing
Philadelphia’s football story is one of regression on offense and unexpected leadership on defense. The team’s future hinges on whether the offense can break out of the current plateau while the defense capitalizes on the talent it has discovered.
