A Playbook Too Familiar; Could It Cost the Eagles?
When a team carries the weight of a Super Bowl title into a new season, expectations rise with every snap, every drive, and every scoreboard update. Fans are more likely to be angry when they feel their team has let them down, especially given its high reputation. The 2025 Eagles roster is undeniable; the talent is there, and no one can miss it. Even after all their accomplishments thus far, something still feels off, not catastrophic, but enough to keep this team from dominating the way many predicted. As the season unfolds, one issue continues to stand above the rest: the Eagles' offense has become predictable, and it’s costing them games.
Despite having one of the best lineups offensively and defensively, they still have errors. With great playmakers like Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and many more, their offense has looked stale in moments. Over the season, it has shown that defenses are reading the Eagles far too easily, and people are making note of it. They know exactly if Barkley is executing a run or a pass, and how the formation or motion telegraphs what Philadelphia is about to do. In moments when the Eagles can and should make big plays, they resort to the same call they’ve done all season. Making them predictable.
The players see it too. After their loss to the Giants in Week Six, their own lineman, Lane Johnson, spoke out, saying their offense has become “one-dimensional” and “predictable”. When your own linemen acknowledge the decrease in offense, it is easy to assume others are as well. This isn’t just an execution issue; it’s an identity issue, one that opposing coordinators are exploiting with increasing confidence. Until the Eagles break those tendencies and reclaim their versatility, they’ll continue making life much easier for the defenses lined up across from them.
The numbers are easy to see, too. When looking at third-down conversion rates, the Eagles sit at 29th, hovering around 33% this season. That is low considering the talent they have on that team. Failing on third downs doesn’t just end drives; it gives the other teams momentum and confidence in the game. Something that cannot continue to happen if the Eagles want to win again. We have seen the offense loosen up too much during games, leaving them to make conservative playcalling, similar to their collapse in Denver. We saw how that worked out for them back at the beginning of the season, something they, nor their fans, liked to see.
Even with all this considered, it is fixable. The Eagles must adjust their strategy. Becoming less predictable, more aggressive, less hesitant, and more dominant to ensure they are in control of the game. They have the talent, the leadership, and the experience to correct course; they just need to rediscover the creativity and confidence that once made this offense so dangerous. Finding their rhythm now rather than later will dictate whether the Eagles regain control of the NFC or keep struggling to climb out of their own way.
