The locker room felt different this Sunday. A 4-0 start had vanished into the Philadelphia mist. Everything seemed to be rolling smoothly until it wasn't. The Eagles' perfect record met its kryptonite in the Denver Broncos. The vibe shifted from a victory parade to a film room mystery.
That mystery has a name: communication. After the stunning 21-17 collapse, wide receiver DeVonta Smith offered a clue. He hinted at missed signals and timing issues. "Jalen has a lot on his mind when he’s trying to work on protection and things. There’s times when we’re looking at him and he may give a signal before or after we look, and ultimately we have to be on the same page, and we have to see the signal no matter what," Smith said.
It was a classic case of what happens when an orchestra’s conductor and the violinist aren't reading the same sheet music. The high-powered offense, for all its weapons, simply didn't roar the way it should have. The plot thickened.
Jalen Hurts was asked about Smith's account. His response was firm. He presented a completely different version of events. “I'd have to ask him what he's referring to because I don't remember any of those things happening," Hurts stated. "But again, if I watch the film and something comes up, that'll be something that we can talk about and grow from."
The stats tell one story. Hurts threw for a season-high 280 yards. Smith himself had a monster game with 114 yards and a touchdown. But numbers can be deceiving, like a box score from a no-hitter that ignores ten stranded base runners. The offense vanished in the second half, managing just one first down on four critical possessions.
A Deeper Look at the Breakdown
The loss exposed more than just a single miscommunication. It revealed a team struggling with its own identity. A.J. Brown summarized the day with one word: "inconsistency." He noted the offense "started off really good," but they "just didn't finish." This has been a troubling theme for a unit that ranked 31st in passing heading into this game.
One specific play epitomized the struggle. Late in the third quarter, Brown raced down the seam, wide open. It was a surefire touchdown. But the connection failed. Hurts’ pass sailed just beyond his reach. "When I looked up, I didn't see the ball," Brown explained. Hurts called it a missed "dagger." These are the plays that separate champions from the rest of the pack.
The frustration is palpable. The Eagles have relied on a stout defense and red-zone efficiency to compensate for their offensive struggles. That safety net finally tore against Denver. Self-inflicted wounds, including costly penalties, sealed their fate. The Broncos capitalized, and the Eagles' 10-game winning streak is now history. Now, where do the Eagles go from here?
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The answer lies in a darkened film room. Hurts has already called for that review. He is seeking growth, not just victory. The path forward requires honest conversations and a unified playbook.