Eagles fans turn on Jalen Hurts as offense struggles vs Bears

With just under two minutes remaining in the first half of Friday’s nationally televised Black Friday matchup, frustration inside Lincoln Financial Field reached a breaking point.

Eagles fans boo as Philadelphia’s offense stalls again in frustrating first half vs Bears

Facing third-and-19, the Philadelphia Eagles needed something, anything, to spark the offense. Instead, quarterback Jalen Hurts checked the ball down to rookie running back Will Shipley, a short completion that offered no realistic chance of converting.

The play was greeted immediately by a chorus of boos from Eagles fans, a fan base known for its blunt honesty and unwillingness to tolerate underperformance. It wasn’t just the failed third-down call. It was everything leading up to it.

At the time of the boos, Philadelphia had managed only three points against the Chicago Bears, a team that has surrendered yards and points in bunches throughout the season. The lack of offensive rhythm contrasted sharply with the urgency of a team trying to bounce back from last week’s collapse when the Eagles blew a 21–0 lead and fell to the Dallas Cowboys, 24–21.

An offense searching for identity

Philadelphia entered the season with expectations of a top-tier offense, but something has been off since Week 1. The issues, which have surfaced in flashes all year, appeared again Friday:

• Saquon Barkley has not replicated the explosive production he delivered last season. His touches have been limited, and the run game as a whole has lacked consistency.
• Jalen Hurts has run far less than in previous seasons, whether by design or caution, and that shift has removed a major element of unpredictability from the Eagles’ scheme.
• A.J. Brown, one of the league’s most dominant receivers in 2023, has shown visible frustration throughout the year as his role fluctuates and his target counts dip.
• Dallas Goedert, perhaps the lone offensive player enjoying a stronger year statistically, had been held without a catch through most of the first half Friday.

The struggles were magnified by the atmosphere and the moment. The Eagles unveiled their all-black uniforms for the Black Friday showcase, hoping to set an aggressive tone. Instead, the night began with stalled drives, miscommunication, and growing tension in the crowd.

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