The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL in recent years. Expectations are sky-high for this team, especially coming off a Super Bowl victory. So when things start going sideways, people start pointing fingers.
There has been plenty of blame to go around for the Eagles this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Most recently, quarterback Jalen Hurts caught some flak for reportedly telling the team that he does not want to run many designed QB runs. After the Eagles’ performance against the Chicago Bears on Black Friday, fans and analysts criticized Hurts’ pickiness as an unwarranted luxury.
Head coach Nick Sirianni was quick to shut those rumors down, clearly stating his confidence in his quarterback.
Nick Sirianni reassures Eagles fans that Jalen Hurts is willing to do what it takes
Speaking on the WIP Morning Show, Sirianni said, “Jalen has proven that he'll do anything he needs to do to win each and every game...I don't want to downplay what anybody hears with reports, but like we are not focused on that. It's not like, 'Hey this report was out, let's Jalen and I have a conversation about it.' If we involved ourselves in all of those things, I wouldn't have time to do anything else."
As much as we love to make our voices heard, Sirianni is absolutely right. The team can’t afford to get caught up in the waves of criticism that come for them any time they underperform. In a heated battle for the NFC East title, they must maintain their focus on the next game on the schedule.
That being said, they certainly can’t afford for their players to be selective about which plays they want to run. This offense has been alarmingly stagnant in recent weeks, with no semblance of consistency in the running game. Whether it’s from Hurts or Saquon Barkley, the rushing success has to come from somewhere. If Hurts is the best option, his play-calling preference has to take a backseat.
Read more: Nick Sirianni must stop defending underperforming Eagles offensive weapon
History suggests that Sirianni’s comments on his quarterback hold true. Hurts has never been one to stir up drama in the locker room. He’s proven himself capable of leading a winning team, both on and off the field. Hopefully, that leadership can be enough to right the ship throughout the rest of this shaky season. If not, the criticism will surely keep coming.