PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts is a turnover machine. Nick Sirianni is on the hot seat. Key Eagles players are hurt, leaving the offense short-handed and there’s no telling when they’ll come back.
Yes, Philadelphia is a bit of a mess headed into a bye week — yet still 2-2 after a 33-16 loss to Tampa Bay in the first matchup between the teams since the Buccaneers’ one-sided playoff win last season.
It’s a slow start in more than just the record. The Eagles are often sloppy and undisciplined to start games. They have yet to score in the first quarter this season, outscored 23-0.
Philadelphia trailed 24-0 midway through the second quarter against Tampa Bay and had been outgained 254-0 over the stretch.
The shutout streak is almost inconceivable for any team, much less a star-studded one like the Eagles that boasts Hurts, Saquon Barkley and even one of the best kickers in the league in Jake Elliott.
Hurts tried to take the blame for the loss. So did Sirianni.
But there are plenty of fingers to go around and point at the scapegoats on all sides of the ball for one of the biggest underachieving teams this season in the NFL.
“It’s truly a, ‘So, what now?’ mentality and that’s the approach that I’ve had,” Hurts said.
What’s working
The Eagles are a team that’s just a play or two away from starting 0-4.
They do have two wins headed into the bye week, a chance to rest and a soft schedule over the next month to try to make their way into the NFC title picture — and take Sirianni off the hot seat.
“All that matters is that these guys continue to get better and us as coaches get better. And I mean that’s all that matters,” Sirianni said. “We’re sitting at 2-2 going into the bye week and all we can do is improve and that’s all we’re going to try to do for this upcoming week.”
What needs help
How about everything?
The Eagles fell behind by 24 points and didn’t cross midfield until the second quarter. They were held without an offensive yard for more than a quarter.
More ugly numbers?
Hurts finished 18 of 30 for 158 yards and no interceptions. He was sacked six times.
The off week should be a needed breather for a team that has played only one home game — the same number the Eagles have played this season in Brazil.
“You have some base things that you do well,” Sirianni said. “But, to say that we know what our identity is, I think that’s just it: We need to figure out what we do well and try to continue to do that. See what we don’t do well, try to get out of that, and mesh some things together.”
Stock up
There were few highs against Tampa Bay. Barkley continues to shine in his first season with the Eagles. He led the team with 116 scrimmage yards (84 rushing, 32 receiving). Barkley has 100-plus scrimmage yards in each of the first four games of the season, making him just the second player in Eagles history to accomplish that feat (Timmy Brown in 1965).
On the first play from scrimmage during the third quarter, Barkley rushed 59 yards to the Tampa Bay 11-yard line.
Barkley’s overall use, though, was puzzling. He had 10 carries overall and only two on the Eagles’ first three possessions. After his 59-yard run, Barkley got just one more carry the rest of the way. Yes, the Eagles were down big, but they still couldn’t find a way to get him the ball and at least open a shot at another explosive play or two?
“That’s an issue we’ve got to figure out right now, starting off slow,” Barkley said. “We’ll go back to practice, work on it, watch film, (and) see what we can do better. But yeah, that’s definitely something that we have to address and do a lot better at.”
Stock down
Cornerback Darius Slay lost off the field, too.
Slay, one of the team’s captains, apologized after he deleted a social media post in which he boasted of his credentials after a rough outing for the defense. Slay noted he was Pro Bowl and All-Pro player and also wrote, “When u talk bad about me don’t forget to mention the greatness of me too.”
He was roasted by Eagles fans for the post and later wrote, “LOL I’m better than that.” Slay wrote late Sunday: “Man I had to chill bra. I was getting out of character!!”
Injuries
The Eagles are a banged-up bunch headed into the bye.
Offensive lineman Lane Johnson (concussion) and wide receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) have all missed games. LB Devin White (personal matter) was inactive against Tampa Bay. Safety Reed Blankenship (illness) sat out the second half. DT Jalen Carter and C Cam Jurgens (cramps) missed time in the fourth quarter as the temperature on the field exceeded 100 degrees.
“I don’t think we all have played a game together yet, especially on the offensive side of the ball, with all of our guys,” Barkley said. “We’ll come back, get healthier and just get ready to grind, get back on a roll. Whatever it takes, whether it’s passing the ball, whether it’s running the ball — a little bit of both — we’ve got to find whatever it is and get ready to do it.”
Key numbers
3-12 — Yes, the Eagles have been bad, but the first four teams they play coming out of the bye are even worse. Cleveland, the New York Giants, Cincinnati and Jacksonville are a combined 3-12 this season, a sign that perhaps if the Eagles can get healthy, fix the bulk of their issues and pounce on the worst of the NFL, the season can be saved.
Next steps
Hope time off helps them find some answers to sloppy all-around play. The Eagles return to play their only October home game on the 13th against Cleveland.
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