The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, are sitting at a solid 4-1 record—but alarm bells are ringing louder than ever. Could this powerhouse team be on the brink of a major stumble?
Just picture this: Back in February, the Eagles clinched the Super Bowl victory thanks to a squad that excelled in every facet of the game, from defense to offense. Their defensive line, in particular, completely overwhelmed Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs during the big game, making the Chiefs' star quarterback look almost human. That stellar defense even overshadowed Philadelphia's playoff offense, which racked up an impressive 11 touchdowns in their last two postseason contests.
Fast-forward to the 2025 season, and it's a whole new narrative unfolding. On the positive side, the Eagles boast a 4-1 record, tying them for the league's top win total so far. But here's where it gets controversial—flip the coin, and you'll see an offense that's worlds apart from last year's version, potentially blocking their path to defending the title.
After five games, the Eagles rank a dismal 30th in total offense, 31st in passing yards per game, and only 14th in points scored per game. For context, total offense includes all yards gained through passing, rushing, and even penalties, giving a broad view of how effectively a team moves the ball. Last year, Philly was much stronger, sitting eighth in overall offense, seventh in points, and crucially, second in rushing yards—a key metric that shows how well a team can grind out gains on the ground to control the clock and wear down opponents.
This season, though, the Eagles' rushing attack has plummeted dramatically, averaging just 99.8 yards per week and ranking 25th in the NFL. To put that in perspective, rushing yards measure how many yards a team gains by handing the ball off to running backs, which is often a reliable way to keep drives alive and avoid turnovers. Saquon Barkley, who was named the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for over 2,000 yards and averaging more than five yards per carry, has seen a sharp decline in 2025. He's now averaging under 75 yards per game at just 3.2 yards per carry—a far cry from his dominant form.
Barkley himself addressed the situation candidly with reporters on Tuesday, saying, 'Obviously, I would love everything firing at a high level. But there’s a long-term goal for this, too, and you just want to continue to build. And even when you think you’re firing at a high level, there’s always something you can improve on. And right now we know, we’re identifying what we need to improve on, what we need to be better at. We just got to go fix it.' It's a reminder that even star players recognize the need for growth, but does this signal deeper issues?
And this is the part most people miss—the struggling rushing game isn't the only headache. The passing offense is lagging too, compounding the problems. Last year, the Eagles made up for a lack of big, explosive passes by relying on their tough running game. This time around, quarterback Jalen Hurts hasn't been able to compensate for the ground shortcomings with long throws, sparking some public frustration from his wide receivers.
Take wideout A.J. Brown, for example. After the team's Week 4 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he commented, 'I think it’s normal to have frustrations because of the standard that we hold ourselves to.' But actions spoke louder than words—Brown skipped post-game interviews and instead posted a Bible verse on X: 'If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.' This subtle jab highlighted his dissatisfaction, and his stats reflect it: After catching 67 passes for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns in just 13 games last season, he's on pace for only 66 receptions, 660 yards, and three scores over 17 games this year.
His teammate DeVonta Smith echoed similar sentiments after Philadelphia's 21-17 defeat to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, describing the offense as 'not on the same page.' He told reporters, 'We made improvements in a lot of areas, but we can still get better. We shot ourselves in the foot a lot, we left a couple plays out there.' This internal discord led to a lengthy meeting between Hurts, Brown, and Barkley on Monday, first reported by Philly Voice and later confirmed by the players themselves. It's a clear sign of a team trying to recalibrate, but is this enough to spark a turnaround?
Yet, amidst all this turmoil, there's a glimmer of hope: The Eagles are still finding ways to win despite their offensive woes. And here's a fascinating comparison—last season, they started 2-2 with a mediocre offense, while head coach Nick Sirianni was navigating a rocky relationship with Hurts and even clashing publicly with fans on the sidelines. Sirianni reflected on Wednesday, 'This isn’t all that different than last year, going through these things as well. You buckle down. You find solutions. You find answers to the problems and you work yourself to get better from that.'
Hurts added earlier in the week, 'I know we’re hungry and excited for all the opportunity in front of us to continue to improve. We don’t want to go out and win as individuals, we want to go out and win as a team.' Their words paint a picture of resilience, but it begs the question: Can past comebacks guarantee future success, or is this a recipe for disaster?
In the world of sports, opinions on team dynamics like this can divide fans fiercely. Some might argue that the Eagles' defense is so elite it can carry them through, while others contend that a dysfunctional offense will eventually doom their title defense. What do you think—will the Eagles fix their offensive struggles in time, or is this the beginning of the end for their dynasty? Is Barkley's dip a temporary slump, or a sign of bigger problems? Share your hot takes in the comments below; I'd love to hear your thoughts and spark a debate!
Rohan Nadkarni is a sports reporter for NBC News.
