Jalen Hurts Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles lack killer instinct

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Sep 15, 2023 11:01 AM ET

Philadelphia is undefeated after two games, but you’d never know it listening to Eagles fans hoping for another Super Bowl run. The sky isn’t quite falling, but confidence in their team is certainly waning.

The team has work to do, especially with their mindset. Philadelphia opened their regular season against the Patriots and jumped out to a 16-point lead in the first quarter. Rather than go for the jugular against an inferior team, the Eagles let New England back in the game.

The Patriots scored 14 unanswered points in the second quarter while Philadelphia struggled to move the ball on offense. The Eagles ran 13 plays for a net gain of two yards in the quarter and needed 133 yards worth of second-half field goals from Jake Elliott to win the game.

The Eagles didn’t start as fast against the Vikings on Thursday, but they found themselves up by 20 points early in the third quarter. Holding a 27-7 lead, Philadelphia allowed a 62-yard touchdown to rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison and another score from wideout K.J. Osborn less than two minutes later.

#Vikings Kirk Cousins steps up on 3rd down and hits Jordan Addison DEEP for the touchdown!

Games not over yet. pic.twitter.com/Dc8didsdkV
— MR Sports Media ™ (@MRFootballElite) September 15, 2023

Victories aside, Philadelphia has yet to look like the team that came within three points of winning Super Bowl LVII. That team jumped on their opponents early and held them down. Starters watched from the sidelines at the end of most games.

Improvements need to be made on both sides of the ball. The team won’t go far by allowing 6.8 yards per play like they did to Minnesota last night. They also won’t win with quarterback Jalen Hurts passing for 181.5 yards per game and averaging 3.4 yards per rush.

It’s early, but Hurts seemed more aggressive last season. Even the best quarterbacks need to take what the defense gives them at times, but so far the runner-up MVP has been unable to find a rhythm and looked indecisive at times.

Fortunately the team gets a full 10 days to make adjustments before facing Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football.” Mayfield was known to wake up feeling dangerous in his Cleveland days. Maybe the Eagles should do the same.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on Twitter/X at @fantasybruce.

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