The Philadelphia Eagles are 8-2, sitting atop the NFC East. But beyond that stat-line, something’s missing. The Eagles have been stacking wins powered by a high-profile defense. However, the offense that lifted the Lombardi Trophy last season is sputtering. Faced with that reality, wide receiver DeVonta Smith is calling for change. 

“Everybody got to look themselves in the mirror,” Smith said in an interview with CBS. “You have to check yourself. We all can go out there. We all can be better. It’s not just one individual. It’s a collective group.”

Philly isn’t used to this look. The offense feels like it’s moving through quicksand. Per Fox rankings, the Eagles stand sixteenth in scoring, averaging 23.4 points per game, 28th in scoring offense, and 29th in third downs with just a 33.9% third-down conversion rate. This team used to strike fast, but now it’s more roll-the-dice than ride-the-lightning. And that’s aggravating a city that feeds off rhythm and risk. And DeVonta Smith has no time for excuses. 

Smith points to sloppy pre-snap penalties, missed cues, and too many ‘shoot yourself in the foot’ moments. Smith’s solution is simple: zone in on the play calls and don’t miss a beat. 

“You just have to lock in,” Smith said in the interview. “Sometimes we had different snap counts, sometimes we jump off offside. So you have to listen to the whole play call. Listen to what the snap count is. Make sure you’re tuned into everything.”  

You can see it on the field. One penalty, one missed block, and suddenly the momentum of a promising start flames out. Ten games in, the Eagles have already stacked up a whopping 70 penalties and lost 625 yards in the process. Injuries have also taken their toll. Offensive tackle Lane Johnson is out, and center Cam Jurgens is questionable.

With four players on the IR, the offensive line looks like a patchwork quilt. Running back Saquon Barkley’s dominance from last season has dropped. The run game suffers because nobody’s healthy or in rhythm, and the struggles continue.

And here’s the thing. Play-calling isn’t helping. Eagles aren’t scheming guys open. Wide receiver AJ Brown is mostly stuck outside, waiting for targets and then airing his frustrations after each game. The defenses know what’s coming, and the spacing’s off. But it’s not all bad. The Eagles lead the league in the red zone, scoring 75% of trips inside the 20. That’s elite. But everywhere else it’s a grind that’s seeping into a frustrated locker room.

DeVonta Smith isn’t pulling any punches to get their offensive rhythm back. But what about star quarterback Jalen Hurts? Well, he has his own way of dealing with the mounting pressure. 

Jalen Hurts and the frustration factor

With the offense sputtering, Jalen Hurts is catching heat. He shrugs it off in pressers, but inside the building, the vibe is quite different these days. Word is, not everybody is on board with Hurts’ cautious play style these days. He’s not letting the ball fly into tight coverages, and he doesn’t want turnovers. But in the face of all the narratives about internal frustration, Hurts holds his ground.

“I guess I get a lot of attention when things are going well and when things are not going so well,” Hurts noted in a recent interview. ‘I never run away from holding myself accountable, and I think that’s exactly what I’ve taken the approach of doing.’

Sure, the Eagles have had only four turnovers all season (a league best). But there have been six games this season where Hurts has thrown under 200 yards. Some love Hurts taking care of the ball and getting them slow wins. Others want the old Hurts back, the risk-taker and the dynamic playmaker. And even while DeVonta Smith calls out the offense, Hurts is quite happy with it.

“I take great pride in what we do on offense,” Hurts said. “I think we’ve got work to do, and that obviously starts with me. That’s always my approach. That’s always me looking internally first in everything that we do and then in due time rising above.”

To ensure a repeat of their 2024 dominance, the Eagles must address their injuries, stale play-calling, and even some locker-room friction. Smith says it best: check yourself. Hurts believes everything’s just right. But there is always room for fireworks. We’ll see if they can change the narrative on-field against the Dallas Cowboys next.