- Despite an 8-2 record, the Philadelphia Eagles offense has faced criticism for underperforming this season.
- Wide receiver DeVonta Smith stated the criticism is fair, acknowledging the offense hasn’t played to its full potential.
- Smith attributes the offensive struggles to self-inflicted errors, particularly pre-snap penalties.
The Philadelphia Eagles offense has received criticism this season despite the team being atop the NFC with an 8-2 record. Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith believes the critique of the defending Super Bowl champs is warranted.
“I think it’s fair. We know we haven’t been playing our best football offensively,” Smith told USA TODAY Sports in a promotional interview on behalf of Oral-B. “The defense has been playing lights out, so trying to play to the standard they’re playing at. I think all criticism is fair.”
The Eagles returned 10 of 11 offensive starters from the squad that won Super Bowl 59. But that continuity on offense hasn’t translated to equivalent production. The Eagles rank 25th in total offense (300.1 yards per game), 17th in run offense (115.2 yards per game), 28th in pass offense (184.9 yards per game) and 16th in points per game (23.4) entering Week 12.
The statistics in all four major offensive categories are a decline from last year’s team.
Philadelphia ranked eighth in total offense (367.2 yards per game), second in run offense (179.3 yards per game), 29th in pass offense (187.9 yards per game) and seventh in points per game (27.2) in the 2024 regular season.
‘We shoot ourselves in the foot a lot.’ Penalties, errors setting Eagles back
Wide receiver A.J. Brown’s voiced his frustration over Philadelphia’s offense on social media and through the media, which even led to a private meeting with quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley.
Smith said the Eagles haven’t let Brown’s frustration become a distraction.
Kevin Patullo replacing Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator was the biggest change Philadelphia made on offense coming into the season. But Smith insists Patullo and Moore’s (now head coach of the New Orleans Saints) offensive philosophies are similar.
“I don’t think it’s a big difference,” Smith said of Patullo and Moore’s offensive approach. “Everybody has their flavor that they throw in there but it’s not too much different.”
So, why has the Eagles offense struggled this year?
“I think we shoot ourselves in the foot a lot,” Smtih said of the team’s offensive struggles. “We get a lot of pre-snap penalties, whether it’s, the O-line, the receivers. A lot of the penalties is what’s set us back.”
Granted, the Eagles have been flagged 70 times to date, which is the 14th most in the league.
One can argue penalties aren’t preeminent reason why the Eagles offense isn’t flying high yet this year. The Eagles rank 24th in offensive success rate, according to Sumer Sport.
There’s also the factor that the defending Super Bowl champions have a target on their back each week.
“Nobody’s gonna take you lightly,” Smith said. “You’re gonna get every team’s best, and we have to be prepared for that.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
