Eagles’ Offensive Concerns on Hold as Hurts Eyes Wild Card Opportunity
PHILADELPHIA – The ongoing conversation surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive struggles will have to take a backseat as the team gears up for Wild Card Weekend. With many key starters expected to rest during the regular-season finale, the last glimpse of the offense came during a dismal second half against Buffalo, where they produced a mere 16 total yards and Jalen Hurts failed to complete a pass.
“I think anything beyond what we’ve done becomes not important,” Hurts remarked on Wednesday, emphasizing a focus on the opportunities ahead. “It’s about what we do with the opportunities that we have. I’m excited about this opportunity this week to improve and ultimately everything we have in front of us.”
Looking Ahead to Wild Card Weekend
For the reigning Super Bowl champions, the immediate future is Wild Card Weekend, which presents a home game against one of three potential opponents: the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, or Green Bay Packers. As they prepare for this pivotal matchup, the Eagles can lean on a championship-caliber defense, a point highlighted by owner Jeffrey Lurie.
Despite criticisms, the offense enters Week 18 ranked No. 24 in total yards and No. 19 in points per game. Yet, advanced metrics such as expected points added per play (EPA/play) tell a slightly brighter story, placing them at No. 12 overall.
Confidence from Within
Star left tackle Jordan Mailata is optimistic about the team’s ability to rise to the occasion. “I think we’ve been here before,” he stated, recalling the doubts that surrounded them last season. “We’ve been doubted before. I think we’ve had these same questions heading into last year. And so, for us, we welcome that challenge. It’s not like we’re just pushing it under the carpet. We’re doing everything we can to get this run game going, to get this play-action game going to help and give our defense a rest.”
Mailata’s confidence is infectious, as he believes in the team’s resilience and their capacity to silence critics. “But we’ve been here before. We’ve been doubted and every time we’ve proven them wrong. That’s why I have confidence. That’s why everyone else does as well.”
Defense as a Foundation
As the Eagles prepare for their playoff run, a defense that is peaking at the right time fuels their optimism. “I think one thing I 100% know and I can get behind is the energy of our defense,” Mailata said, reflecting on their consistency throughout the season. “If I look back through this whole year, it’s been the most consistent thing this year. And it’s picked us up in games when we weren’t doing anything and it’s helped start us hot in games. They’ve been the most consistent thing.”
With the postseason looming, the Eagles are determined to harness the strengths of both their defense and offense, hoping to turn the tide as they embark on their playoff journey.
