In professional sports, the primary motivators are money and winning. For the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, having secured both, a troubling complacency appears to have set in.
After winning a Super Bowl and rewarding its key players with lucrative contracts, the team looks like a shadow of its former self. Despite allocating nearly $130 million of its salary cap to the offense—more than double the investment in the defense—the Eagles do not rank in the top half of the NFL in rushing, passing, or scoring.
The issue may be one of desire. After blowing a 21-0 lead in a loss to Dallas, running back Saquon Barkley offered a blunt assessment: “They wanted it a little more.”
That sentiment points to a lack of motivation plaguing the offense this season. While the team holds an 8-3 record, the losses have been marked by listless efforts, including a flat performance against the Giants and the second-half collapse in Dallas. As they prepare to host a hungry 8-3 Bears team, this trend is cause for serious concern.
This situation echoes the aftermath of the team’s Super Bowl LII victory. Much like that squad, the current Eagles seem to be basking in the glow of their championship. When players are financially secure and wearing championship rings, finding the motivation to execute fundamental tasks like holding a block or finishing a route can become more challenging. This is what separates perennial contenders from one-time winners. Dynasties are defined by a relentless pursuit of greatness that transcends financial security.
Several of the team’s highest-paid offensive stars, including Barkley, wide receiver A.J. Brown, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and offensive linemen Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, and Lane Johnson, are performing below their expected levels. The notable exception has been wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who is on pace for an excellent season.
In stark contrast, the defense is powered by young, hungry players on rookie contracts. Linebacker Nakobe Dean, defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, and cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are playing with fierce determination, driven by the prospect of future paydays. After a slow start, the defense—fortified by midseason additions and returning players—has regained its dominant form.
The offense, however, has failed to deliver a complete, proficient game against a quality opponent. Former Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins recently offered insight into this championship hangover. “You just won a Super Bowl,” Jenkins told ESPN. “So even though you go back to the starting line, in your mind, you are a Super Bowl-caliber team, and you think you deserve, almost, to get there.”
Jenkins, whose credibility is cemented by Super Bowl wins with two different teams and his impending induction into the Eagles’ Hall of Fame, added that teams can deceive themselves. “The season comes, and you realize that this season has nothing to do with last year,” he explained. “I think the faster teams get to that truth… those are the teams that can repeat, that can create dynasties.”
A clear indicator of the team’s lack of focus is its penalty count. Last season, the Eagles were one of the league’s most disciplined teams, ranking among the best in fewest penalties and penalty yards. This year, they are near the bottom of the league in both categories, as well as in pre-snap penalties. Their 14 penalties against Dallas were the most in the Nick Sirianni era. For a veteran team, they are playing with the sloppiness of a rebuilding squad.
Sirianni has pushed back against the notion of low effort, stating, “When I watched the tape, I saw the effort sky-high on both sides of the ball.” But the on-field results suggest otherwise.
The offensive malaise runs deep. The once-dominant offensive line is struggling to create running lanes for Barkley. Brown’s public focus has at times seemed geared more toward personal accolades than team success. These are issues of effort, not just execution.
Of course, other factors may be at play. Injuries have been a significant issue, sidelining key players like Brown, Dickerson, and Johnson for periods and hampering others, like center Cam Jurgens, who has not been at full strength all season after offseason surgery.
Fatigue could also be a culprit. With three deep postseason runs in recent years, the Eagles have played significantly more football than most teams, an extra burden shared only by the Kansas City Chiefs, who have also shown signs of wear.
Previously, when the monetary incentive was secured, the drive to win a championship was enough to fuel this team. Now, with that goal also accomplished, the question remains: what fuels their fire today?
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