The Philadelphia Eagles are the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL, a feat they’ve maintained since the Miami Dolphins lost in Week 4. At 8-0, the Eagles are primed for the top seed in a down NFC, with an offense that has a lot to do with their overall success.
The Eagles currently hold the tie-breaker against the Cowboys and Vikings with two games still to go against the Giants. Additionally, according to Football Outsiders, they have the most manageable remaining schedule in the NFL.
Philadelphia’s moved the ball differently through the air depending on the week and has continuously moved it on the ground well outside the Commanders’ game. How are they doing it?
Philadelphia Eagles Offense Lacks a Weakness
Philadelphia does absolutely everything on offense at a high level. Howie Roseman is known as an aggressive pro-personnel general manager, but he built the Eagles’ offense through the draft, save for A.J. Brown.
Philadelphia’s offense is productive in every facet of the game. Looking at Jalen Hurts’ passing chart game by game is fascinating. Shane Steichen comes up with a new plan of attack by the week, and it shows by how differently the Eagles’ offense attacks based on its opponent.
Hurts seems to agree.
The Eagles’ offense ranks at the top of nearly every advanced efficiency metric the nerds can come up with. They rank third in overall DVOA (fifth in pass and rush) and EPA (third in dropback and rush). Those are individual-play efficiency numbers.
Philadelphia’s drive stats are as good. They rank third in yards, points, and drive success rate, second in INT rate, and first in fumble rate.
The Eagles’ schedule has not been grueling (27th-ranked defense), but their entire schedule is a relative cakewalk. Nevertheless, there is something to be said about taking care of business.
Buffalo lost to a quality Dolphins team, but the Chiefs lost to the directionless Colts team. The Eagles are a more complete offense than any in the NFL. The Chiefs aren’t a horrible running team, but Buffalo struggles mightily with non-QB rushes.
Each of the Eagles’ eight games has seen positive passing DVOA output. Six of them have finished with a positive rushing DVOA. Hurts’ legs are a massive reason why the Eagles’ offense keeps chugging along.
Eagles Passing Attack Finds a Way
We’ve seen a massive variance in how Hurts and the Eagles’ passing attack go after defenses. His intended air yards range from 11.3 against Washington in Week 3 to 3.8 against Arizona in Week 5.
The Eagles love their screens. Whether they be true setup screens or RPO throws behind the line of scrimmage, Philadelphia runs them at a high rate.
Of the 15 tight ends with at least 32 targets, only Tyler Higbee has a lower aDOT than Dallas Goedert. Goedert’s four-yard aDOT is low, but his 10.1 yards after the catch is the highest in the league out of all tight ends and wide receivers.
The Eagles’ offense loves using Goedert in the screen game. His five receptions per game is the highest rate of his career, even with DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown on the roster.
Hurts doesn’t have a massive aDOT. He ranks 20th in the NFL at 7.4 yards. But the Eagles don’t have to rely on explosive plays to score. Their consistent rushing attack and talented offensive weapons continuously pick up first downs and sustain drives.
Hurts has also avoided turnovers at an outrageous rate thus far. Despite rushing the ball 88 times and attempting 239 passes, the third-year quarterback has only turned the ball over three times so far through eight games.
Meanwhile, the Eagles’ defense has turned opposing offenses over more than any team in the league (18) through eight games. Hurts’ ball security and progressed pocket presence has been a huge reason for his success so far this year.
No team in the league averages more yards per passing play than the Eagles. They’re one of two teams that average over eight yards per passing play in the league, along with Miami.
The passing attack is awesome because it’s conceptually strong, but Hurts’ progression has been a huge factor as well.
Jalen Hurts Improving From Last Season
A season ago, the Eagles’ passing attack was missing something. The middle of the field was largely ignored in the passing attack, making it far easier for defenses to plan against. At times, there was a touchdown-to-checkdown feel to it, and everything happened along the sideline.
Hurts’ ability to process and attack horizontally has vastly improved. While most of his progression as a passer has been gradual ever since his early days at Alabama, he’s made huge strides in the past season.
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The third-year QB is averaging nearly two more yards per attempt from within the pocket. While having an outstanding offensive line to pass protect for him helps, Hurts’ individual growth has made this offense impossible to defend against.
Especially when we consider that we haven’t discussed their rushing attack yet.
Eagles Rushing Attack
The Eagles’ 4.31 rushing yards per play doesn’t seem overwhelming on the surface. However, they use their rushing attack strategically.
Success is the goal, and no rushing attack is as successful as Philadelphia’s is. Their 47.9% success rate is tops in the league, and Hurts’ ability to pick up one yard in short-yardage situations is a massive reason why.
On pace for 187 rushing attempts this season, the third-year QB is on pace to break Lamar Jackson’s record of 176 in a single season for a quarterback.
And while he’s averaging fewer than four yards per carry, there’s no denying his efficiency as a rusher. Hurts runs the zone read to near perfection, making the wrong decision so rarely it’s not worth discussing.