One Half Wonders: The Eagles Struggle to Play a Full 60 Minutes
In the first four weeks of the season, the Eagles kept surviving games, and their ugly wins suggested that their luck would soon run out. Then in Week Five, it did. Their first loss was handed to them after blowing a 14-0 lead to the Denver Broncos, who outscored them 18-0 in the fourth quarter. Throughout the 2025 campaign, each weekly performance shows that Philadelphia seems to have a split personality—one half they look like a Super Bowl contender, and in the other, they have no momentum. As they enter Week Six against the 1-4 Giants, everyone knows the Eagles are loaded with potential, so the real question is this: Can they execute for a full 60 minutes of a football game?
A Pattern of Inconsistency
It can be argued that the Eagles have shown a game-long fight through only one of their five games so far. Week One was a highly competitive game against their fiercest rival, the Dallas Cowboys. After putting up 21 in the first half, the Eagles' last points were awarded by a field goal early in the third. Despite their inaction on offense, their defense held up throughout the game to keep the Cowboys scoreless in the second half, ultimately securing the win. The inaction balanced out, but everyone expects more from Philadelphia, especially if they hope to make another Super Bowl run.
Week Two against the Chiefs was far from perfect. Despite their mistakes, they managed to put numbers on the board in every quarter. All it took was two field goals, two touchdowns, and complementary football by the defense to pull away with a huge victory on the road. That game's long consistency proved that keeping constant pressure throughout a game is what secures wins, not having exceptional halves and hoping the defense can tough it out.
When the Eagles played the Rams in Week Three, the pattern of inconsistency truly emerged. After being completely shut down following their opening drive, the Rams went up 26-7 early in the third quarter. After hardly converting any first downs in the first half, Philly flipped the script in the second with a Super Bowl-caliber performance to come back and win it. Yes, the win is a positive mark, but must every game be a nail-biter?
The same goes for their Week Four and Week Five performances. Instead of catching up in the second, the Eagles had an outstanding first half and went almost silent in the second half, scoring only a single touchdown in each third quarter. Against the Buccaneers in Week Four, it came down to the final minutes, where an interception at the goal line saved a Buccaneers touchdown that would have made it a one-point game. Then, in Week Five, playing defensively once they built a “comfortable” lead, rather than a steady offensive attack, is what cost them the game.
Offensive Identity and Execution Crisis
A major part of the Super Bowl-winning offense in 2024 was the run game led by Saquon Barkley. This season, he is everyone's target after being named Offensive Player of the Year, and it shows. He is averaging just over three yards per carry. Last year, with Jalen Hurts being able to depend on him to move the ball downfield, he didn't have to lean heavily on the passing game as often, despite A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in his arsenal. Now that Barkley's momentum has stalled, the aerial attack is a necessary asset that has been slow to develop in the 2025 season. Fans have seen flashes of what Brown and Smith can do when Hurts looks their way, but not nearly enough to make them the successful team they have the potential to be.
Part of the offensive struggle stems from a new leadership dynamic with offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. With a new coach calling the plays, not only have the schemes been shifted, but the rhythm of drives continues to change, making it feel like the Eagles are constantly struggling to find what’s working. In almost every game thus far, the offense shifts after halftime—whether it's for better or worse—and the cohesion and adaptability that made them so great last year have yet to make an appearance. Until the Eagles can find the balance between a successful ground attack and a confident passing game, they will continue to play only one good half a week.
The Call’s Coming From Inside the House
The good news for Philadelphia is that they have enough talent and experience to fix these flaws. Passion and leadership are evident values to the team; it's just the communication and cohesion that need to catch up. Every play doesn’t need to be on the highlight tape; instead, it's the small, consistent gains that move them down the field, convert drives into touchdowns, and win games. The defense can keep up, and the playbook does not need changing, because every issue has been self-inflicted. If the Eagles can sustain their energy and combine their best halves into a full, complete game, it could be all the difference between a deep playoff run and more disappointing losses.
