Eagles are missing something for playoffs... and maybe we now know what that is

The Philadelphia Eagles have no shortage of theories about why their ground game has flatlined. But the clearest explanation may come from PennLive’s Johnny McGonigal, who argues the team has quietly removed one of the defining elements of its offense. And the evidence, as well as similar voices, is hard to ignore.

Barkley numbers show it’s Hurts

McGonigal has been blunt in his assessment: the Eagles no longer force defenses to account for Jalen Hurts as a planned runner. That single shift, he suggests, has made life exponentially harder for Saquon Barkley. With Hurts rarely keeping the ball, opponents are loading up on Barkley and daring Philadelphia to adjust.

Barkley’s numbers underline the issue. Outside of one explosive outing, his production has dipped sharply. But the argument isn’t about blaming the running back… it’s about the structure around him.

Philadelphia ranks near the bottom of the league in designed quarterback runs after years of living near the top. Those earlier seasons coincided with elite rushing performance. This year, the designed-run rate has crumbled. Injuries, caution and coaching philosophy are other possible explanations, but the conclusion is simple: without Hurts forcing defenders into conflicts, the offense shrinks.

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