The Eagles were trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-0, entering the fourth quarter of their wild-card playoff matchup on Sunday. With little standing in the way of a playoff win for the Bucs, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles decided to go with a prevent coverage, and the Eagles were able to tack on 15 points in a blowout loss.
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The Eagles’ offense, led by first-year head coach Nick Sirianni and second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts, put forth one of its typical slow starts and never recovered. After spending two months running over inferior opponents, the once-dominant running game shrunk against the giant front of the Bucs’ defense. The passing game, which was leaned on heavily in response, coward under the confusion of disguised coverages and pounding pressure.
To say the wild-card round playoff exit against the Bucs was not a banner day for the offense would be a huge understatement.
That said, the playoff loss doesn’t completely wipe out what the offense accomplished during the regular season under Sirianni. The Eagles produced 30 or more points in seven games this season, six more times than the Giants did over the past two seasons combined.
The Eagles set a franchise rushing yards record, despite ignoring the attack’s prowess for nearly half of the season. The group led the league with 2,715 rushing yards, with Hurts serving as the top rusher with 784 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Eagles also finally found a true No. 1 wideout in first-round pick DeVonta Smith. The rookie set a franchise rookie receiving yards record with 916 yards to go along with five touchdowns.
Here’s how NJ Advance Media graded Sirianni and each of the offensive units:
HC Nick Sirianni
Sirianni got off to a nice start in Week 1, as he came out firing with young QB Jalen Hurts against the Atlanta Falcons. The win showed off Sirianni’s imagination as a schemer, as he created several ways for his playmakers to get open, and Hurts took advantage, looking polished in his first season-opening start.
Then, the youth and inexperience of the roster and coaching staff took hold, as Sirianni struggled to adjust his pass-happy offense when solid opposing defenses confused or crushed Hurts, who was dropping back to pass at an alarming rate. Sirianni drew the ire of fans and critics for his refusal to run the ball consistently, which turned out to be valid criticism based on second-half results.
Following what seemed like a tenure-trashing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, Sirianni and his staff got together and reworked their play-calling woes. Sirianni rode his elite offensive line as the Eagles dominated as a run-first offense throughout the final 11 games of the season. Sirianni leaned on offensive line coach/running game coordinator Jeff Stoutland to create effective blocking angles and running lanes for the ground attack, and the scheming was so successful that the team won with basically anyone in the backfield.
Like anyone on their first major assignment, there will be ebbs and flows, especially with play-calling. Sirianni’s ability to adjust the way he used his offense in the middle of the season was commendable, as was his desire to stick with the change as long as he did. It’s fair to wonder how effective his initial strategy would have been with a more pronounced pocket passer. But, from what we were able to see, Sirianni weathered a lot of concerns and showed he can at least be flexible with his offense.
GRADE(S): C (play-calling), B (overall)
Quarterbacks
Hurts entered the summer as the top name on the depth chart following the March trade of Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts. While he had a solid training camp performance, the QB1 still dealt with the outside noise about potential replacements, namely Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson, who still has more than 20 open civil cases revolving around allegations of sexual misconduct.
Hurts was able to make it to Week 1 as the starting quarterback and never looked back. While he looked as sharp as ever as a passer against the Falcons in Week 1, Hurts’ performance in that aspect regressed over the next couple of months, as Sirianni forced him into pass-heavy attacks that didn’t favor the offense. Hurts was asked to be the “be all, end all” of the offense, and was exposed because of it.
Finally, after an embarrassing loss to the Raiders in Week 7, the Eagles switched up their offensive approach and made Hurts more of a point guard on the turf. While he was still asked to make big plays with his arm, Hurts was aided by a heavy focus on the running game, which bulldozed inferior opponents through the final two months of the season.
Hurts led the Eagles to the playoffs, completing 61.3% of his passes for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also led the team with 874 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. His totals as a runner also led all NFL quarterbacks this season.
When Hurts was forced to miss Week 13′s matchup against the Jets, backup Gardner Minshew jumped into action put forth a terrific performance, completing 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Minshew’s output helped spark what would become a four-game winning streak that pushed the Eagles into playoffs. While he had a mediocre effort in the meaningless season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, he more than delivered on the promise of the sixth-round pick that was delivered to the Jaguars during the final-cut weekend.
GRADE: B
Running Backs
With a talented offensive line in front of them, it seemed the Eagles could do no wrong in the backfield, no matter who was behind Hurts.
While Miles Sanders missed five games due to injury, he still led the team’s running backs with 754 yards. Sanders didn’t reach the end zone during the season but he did have seven carries of 20 or more yards, and averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
Boston Scott started the season as a scarcely used third back, but ultimately, he became a catalyst for the Eagles’ dominant running game in the second half of the season. He produced 373 rushing yards and a career-high seven touchdowns on the season. He was particularly effective against NFC East opponents.
Jordan Howard started the season on the practice squad and was elevated to the main roster when Sanders was placed on injured reserve in Week 8. Howard made the most of his opportunities before suffering a late-season stinger injury. He posted 406 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Rookie running back Kenny Gainwell had some major ebbs and flows this season. He started out as the No. 2 back but was pushed down the depth chart at the midway point of the season. He eventually worked his way back into the rotation as a dynamic dual threat. He finished the season with 291 rushing yards, 253 receiving yards and six total touchdowns.
The group overall had a nice output largely due to the elite blocking in front of them. Scott and Gainwell were the only running backs to stay healthy throughout the year, and Sanders had some early blunders this season. It was a solid but not spectacular group effort.
GRADE: B
Wide Receivers
The Eagles’ wideouts were scattered across the spectrum of success this season. Despite Sirianni’s background and heavy focus being on the wide receiver unit, the results of the group were all over the place.
Smith turned out to be the dynamic weapon the Eagles were looking for this season. While the second-half focus on the running game took away targets from Smith and impacted his final numbers, he still set the franchise rookie record for receiving yards. More importantly, Smith was able to prove his durability despite questions regarding his svelte frame. He played in all 17 games this season, earned a reputation as an above-average blocker and showed excellent jump-ball ability. His work was a home run for the Eagles.
Quez Watkins, a 2020 sixth-round pick, began to blossom into a legitimate weapon in training camp. The Southern Miss alum was barely used as a rookie, but quickly gained the attention of Sirianni to the point that he bounced fellow 2020 draftee John Hightower out of the picture. He then quickly jumped 2020 first-round pick Jalen Reagor in the lineup. He finished with a respectable 43 catches for 647 yards and a touchdown as the No. 2 wideout.
Reagor, on the other hand, was an abject disaster. The former Day 1 pick made routine mental errors nearly every week and failed to stand out on offense. He also had quite a few blunders as a punt returner as well. Reagor’s lowest moment came in Week 12 against the Giants when he dropped a touchdown pass that hit him in the stomach. A catch would have put the Eagles in a position to win the game, but the ball fell to the turf. Still, the staff stuck with Reagor, who continued to be a non-factor (at best) on offense. He finished with 33 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
Greg Ward and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside made their bones on special teams and occasionally were featured on offense. Ward made a pair of big plays in a must-win game against Washington in Week 16, while Arcega-Whiteside picked up a big first down on a catch against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12.
GRADE: C+
Tight Ends
The Eagles traded franchise legend Zach Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals in October. The deal allowed Dallas Goedert to take his rightful place as the top tight end on offense. While he struggled with some notable drops throughout the season, Goedert was a big-play machine and the No. 2 target on offense behind Smith. Goedert was graded out as a top-five tight end by Pro Football Focus and picked up 830 yards and four touchdowns on 56 touchdowns this season. He was rewarded with a 4-year, $57 million contract extension in November.
Undrafted rookie Jack Stoll was boosted to the No. 2 tight end spot after the Ertz trade and performed admirably as a blocker. He end up playing more combined snaps than any rookie on the team outside of Smith and left guard Landon Dickerson, as he stood out on special teams as well. He caught four passes for 22 yards.
Quarterback-turned-tight end project Tyree Jackson was used as a body in 13 personnel after returning from injured reserve at the midseason point. He made three catches for 22 yards and a touchdown before tearing his ACL in the season finale against the Cowboys.
GRADE: B
Offensive Line
The Eagles’ offensive line put on a masterclass showing this season. Even with multiple guards going in and out of the lineup, and right tackle Lane Johnson missing three games due to a personal health crisis, the line was among the elite in the league.
The Eagles started three different players at left guard and five different players at right guard this season. They also had starting left tackle Jordan Mailata play two games at right tackle after missing two games due to injury. Former first-round pick Andre Dillard also started four games at left tackle.
The only ironman was center Jason Kelce, who was named a first-team All-Pro earlier this month. Kelce was among the top run-blocking linemen in the league this year, as he anchored the Eagles’ record-setting ground game. He received a 90.0 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, and an all-around grade of 84.8.
Johnson, despite missing four games, was named a second-team All-Pro because of his elite pass-blocking ability (81.2 grade via PFF). He was also graded as a strong run-blocker (76.8). Mailata received a stellar 86.9 grade overall, with marks of 83.3 in pass blocking and 87.0 in run blocking. He signed a 4-year, $64 million contract extension in September.
Main fill-in right guards, Jack Driscoll and Nate Herbig, both played well in place of injured starter Brandon Brooks (pectoral). Driscoll finished 22nd among 84 qualifying guards for PFF, while Herbig ranked 40th overall.
Dickerson, the team’s second-round pick, finished 25th overall among 84 qualifying guards. Despite coming off ACL surgery, Dickerson established himself as a strong starting left guard after moving to the position following Isaac Seumalo’s (knee) season-ending injury.
GRADE: A
Overall Grade: B-
The Eagles rode their running attack to a playoff berth, as Sirianni felt out the process of being a first-year head coach and play-caller. While the Eagles’ offense became notorious for its slow starts throughout the season, Sirianni figured out his offense’s strengths and weaknesses by the midway point of the season, and he was able to beat up on inferior opponents. Hurts, Sanders, Scott, Smith, Goedert, Watkins and the offensive line all had huge moments during the season, but the offense clearly needs some upgrades in the playmaking department. Still, the young foundation of talent is there for Sirianni and the offense to build on.
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Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com.
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