PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) – The last weekend in September, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like a mess, heading into a much-needed bye only four games into the season after an embarrassing loss in Tampa Bay.
Fast forward to the final weekend of October, and the vibe has shifted.
No one is confusing the Eagles with a lock for the Super Bowl, but after ripping off three wins in a row, Nick Sirianni’s team looks much more like a postseason contender.
Based on productive changes implemented during the winning streak, the head coach, who just a month ago was getting skewered by fans and media, deserves credit.
The most noticeable adjustment has come on the offensive side of the field, where the Eagles, particularly in the last two games, have relied more on the run.
One week after rushing the ball a season-high 45 times against the New York Giants, the Eagles ran 39 times, their second-highest total of the year, in Cincinnati.
Not only has this commitment delivered results in the ground game, it’s opened up other parts of the offense as well.
Take Jalen Hurts’ 45-yard touchdown strike to DeVonta Smith in Sunday’s third quarter. The Eagles were able to sell the play-action pass so effectively because of all the set-up work they had done with the run. The Bengals’ defense had to honor the possibility of a hand-off, and took the bait.
Does averaging 40.0 rushes the last three games signal an all-out identity shift?
Depends on who you ask.
Sirianni seems to have one take; Hurts another.
In this week’s edition of “unCovering the Birds,” The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane examines the Eagles’ evolving offensive identity question and looks at the implications behind the team using a more balanced attack.
Plus, is A.J. Brown the Eagles’ best receiver of all time? Jeff shares his thoughts and goes one-on-one with offensive lineman Landon Dickerson in this week’s “Pick Six” segment. The two discuss Boy Scouts, lawn care, and secret languages.
“unCovering the Birds” is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season. Follow on the free Audacy app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you listen to podcasts.