Philadelphia Eagles fans experienced a collective deja vu against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, as they saw the offense die once again after a productive half of football. It was the third straight week for the Eagles to have a night-and-day difference on offense between two halves. The 18-0 fourth quarter in favor of the Broncos meant that the Eagles lost just their second game over the last two seasons when they entered the fourth with a lead.
Naturally, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is at the center of it all, once again receiving a ton of criticism from Eagles fans. After the game, quarterback Jalen Hurts tried to come to Patullo's rescue by taking some of the responsibility.
"I can't tell you what the issue is. Ultimately, I can take accountability for everything, and take responsibility for it all," Hurts said (h/t @PHLEaglesNation). "The lack of execution, the lack of the sense of urgency. I take responsibility for all of it and I'm just trying to find solutions for it."
Jalen Hurts Shouldn't Take Blame for Kevin Patullo's Mistakes
While Hurts' remarks are a sign of good leadership, they shouldn't distract from what the real problem in Philadelphia is. The Eagles had not lost a game that Hurts had started and finished in over a year coming into Sunday. The 18-game winning streak ended on Sunday, and that is obviously not on Hurts, who tried to get his frustrated receivers going early and often.
The Eagles' offense looked solid against an elite defense in the first half, and Hurts was 13-of-19 with 138 yards, a touchdown, and a 106.9 passer rating. The play-calling seemed more aggressive, and the execution in the passing game was much better than it was in the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Then the Eagles' offense went flat again. Following the first drive of the second half, where running back Saquon Barkley had an impressive 47-yard touchdown, Philadelphia had three straight drives that produced a total of one yard before three punts.
At this point, it's obvious that the Eagles can't make the necessary adjustments on offense. This is negatively impacting the individual play of the playmakers, as wideouts A.J. Brown and Jahan Dotson gave up on plays on separate occasions in the second half. Brown's lack of effort was especially palpable when the Eagles struggled to move the ball.
The Broncos are a very good defense, and struggling against them is understandable. Yet, how predictable Philadelphia's struggles have been over the first five weeks of the season is extremely frustrating. The way it is affecting the Eagles' stars suggests that things can get even worse.
Patullo is on the thinnest of ices and should remain there until Philadelphia can put two straight halves of good offense in a game.