Philadelphia Eagles debate table: Why does this offense feel shorthanded?

The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense is less than potent, and that’s being kind.

Heading into Week 12’s Monday Night Football Game, the Philadelphia Eagles have a problem. Well, they have a few issues actually, but nothing says ‘limitations’ like an offense that’s only been able to manage 17 points or less in each of the last three football games.

For those of you who are raising your hands and wanting to point out that Philly hung 23 on the lowly Dallas Cowboys back on November 1st (which feels like it was three months ago), keep in mind the fact that six of those 23 points came by way of a Rodney McLeod scoop and score. You can’t give Philly’s O the thumbs up for that, nor can you give an argument for why they’ll be able to hang with a more-than-capable Seattle Seahawks offense in their next game.

As a matter of fact, if you’re a Birds fan, you have to be asking yourself where points are going to come from, especially when they haven’t been able to produce any with any regularity. Philly released their third and final injury report on the Saturday leading up to Week 12’s game. They’re relatively healthy. Only three players are ruled out, so why does it feel like this team is still shorthanded?

It wasn’t supposed to be this way if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Philadelphia entered the 2020 offseason with a plan to get younger and better on both sides of the ball. Much of the free-agency frenzy was dedicated to strengthening the defense. Much of the 2020 NFL Draft was dedicated to finding talent for the offensive unit.

In all, Philly drafted three wide receivers and executed a trade to bring in another. They drafted both of the Auburn Tigers’ starting offensive tackles from the 2019 college football season. They took a project quarterback in Round 2.

There were injuries. There were setbacks. Fast forward to the present, and this team is arguably the healthiest that they’ve been all season. Only three players are ruled out for Week 12’s game, (Rudy Ford, Sua Opeta, and Lane Johnson). Opeta is on the team’s IR (injured reserve). Johnson will soon join him as he’s done for the year. Earlier this week, both Vinny Curry and Corey Clement were activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, leaving JJ Arcega-Whiteside on the list by himself.

Again, this team hasn’t been this healthy all season. Sure, Jason Peters is questionable, and that means, if he can’t go, Philly has to make some decisions at right guard. Sure, Zach Ertz is still trying to work his way back onto the field, but the Eagles have Carson Wentz, Miles Sanders, Travis Fulgham, Greg Ward, Jalen Reagor, John Hightower, Dallas Goedert, and Alshon Jeffery all at their disposal on offense.

Why does it feel like they’re shorthanded then? Why does it feel like they’ve got no shot to compete with the might Seattle Seahawks offense and Russell Wilson? Why have they only been able to manage 17 points or less on offense versus the Cowboys, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns? None of those teams will ever be confused with the ’85 Chicago Bears?

Is it a lack of ability, a lack of desire, or the absence of good coaching? How can a team with so much talent, a team that’s this healthy this late in the season always feel like it’s missing something? Why can’t we put our finger definitively on what it is that they’re missing? The debate table is open. Two things are certain. One, it wasn’t supposed to be this way, and second, we’ll get another look at the Eagles’ offense during Philly’s final primetime game of 2020’s NFL season.