The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense is in shambles, riddled with issues that have fans pulling their hair out. But amid the chaos, one massive flaw stole the spotlight in their gut-wrenching 24-21 meltdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday: they simply can’t run the ball worth a damn. And there’s a game-changing tweak — straight out of the Super Bowl champs’ playbook — that they’re inexplicably ignoring, one that could unleash Saquon Barkley’s full fury.
Barkley, the star running back, limped through the game with a measly 22 yards on 10 carries, as Philly squandered a commanding 21-0 lead and watched victory slip away. It was his rock-bottom outing in what’s been a frustrating season overall. Sure, he etched his name in history as the ninth player to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards back in 2024, but this year? Just 684 yards on 185 totes — a paltry 3.7 yards per carry across 11 games. Strip away that outlier 150-yard explosion against the Giants on October 26, and he’s scraping by at 53.4 yards per contest. Ouch.
Barkley is owning the blame like a true pro, but let’s be real: this mess isn’t all on him. The vaunted offensive line is playing like amateurs, coordinator Kevin Patullo’s schemes feel as fresh as week-old bread, and yeah, Barkley hasn’t been his explosive self. But lurking in the shadows is an under-the-radar culprit that’s crippling the ground attack — a vital weapon the Eagles have holstered, one that could flip the script overnight.
Enter Jalen Hurts, the dual-threat dynamo who’s being wasted as a pocket passer. Against Dallas, he logged just seven rushes: three scrambles, one tush push, and only three designed plays (two RPOs and a slick QB draw for a score). This season, Hurts has 80 carries total, but dig deeper via Pro Football Focus: 29 scrambles, 23 sneaks, and 10 kneeldowns. That leaves a pathetic 18 designed runs in 11 games — barely 1.6 per outing.
Now, feast your eyes on this bombshell stat that exposes the Eagles’ downfall: Compare it to Hurts’ glory days.
- 2024: 55 designed runs in 15 games (3.7 per game)
- 2023: 59 designed runs in 17 games (3.5 per game)
- 2022: 73 designed runs in 15 games (4.9 per game)
- 2021: 67 designed runs in 15 games (4.5 per game)
In those powerhouse seasons from 2021-24, Philly dominated the NFL rushing ranks: first, fifth, eighth, and second. This year? They’re languishing at 21st. Coincidence? Hardly. When Hurts was a running menace, defenses quaked. Now, they’re stacking the box against Barkley with impunity.
We’re not saying ramping up Hurts’ runs would instantly turn the Eagles into a juggernaut — but damn, it couldn’t hurt. Imagine more read options with Hurts and Barkley tag-teaming, leaving linebackers in no-man’s-land. Picture defensive coordinators sweating over aggressive blitzes if RPOs became a staple. And those QB draws? They’ve been money in the bank.
So, what’s the holdup? Why bench Hurts’ legs in a season screaming for them?
Patullo brushed it off on September 16 after a slow start: “Don’t worry. We still have those.” Then, post-Giants blowout on October 28 — where Hurts had zero designed runs in a 38-20 romp — he doubled down: “Do we need it? Do we want to do it? The way the game unfolded, we really didn’t need it.”
Fair point for a cakewalk win, but the rest of the schedule? Brutal, especially on the ground. Fans are torching Patullo, and rightfully so, but the buck doesn’t stop there. Head coach Nick Sirianni handpicked him and shapes the offense. He green-lights the game plan. Even Hurts has veto power in the huddle.
The elephant in the room: injury risk. Hurts took a nasty concussion last year on a QB draw against Washington in Week 16, sidelining him for the finale and two meaningless games. As the face of a $255 million, five-year deal signed in April 2023, the front office treats him like fragile china. Protect the investment at all costs.
But Hurts? He’s all in. “I’m always open to doing whatever it takes to win,” he said Tuesday. “Just go out and execute it as it’s called.” On more designed runs? “Whatever works. That’s my position on it.”
Bottom line: The Eagles’ run game is DOA this season. If they crave a jolt — and want to give Barkley breathing room to beast mode — it’s time to unleash Hurts on the ground. One simple fix, one massive turnaround. Philly, the clock’s ticking.