In Arlington, Texas, Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in a unique position as they continue to control the NFC East, despite experiencing rare consecutive losses. The recent 33-13 defeat against the Dallas Cowboys has momentarily allowed the Cowboys to match the Eagles atop the division. However, the Eagles, sporting a 10-3 record, are far from portraying a dominant force in the league. The setback in Dallas highlighted areas for improvement, emphasizing that even with a solid record, the Eagles face challenges in maintaining a consistently formidable presence.
In the wake of consecutive losses and a challenging outing against the Dallas Cowboys, veteran defensive tackle Fletcher Cox emphasized the crucial need for the Philadelphia Eagles to identify and rally around their key leaders. Cox stressed the importance of distinguishing the individuals who will step up and make a difference in turning the team’s fortunes around. Reflecting on his past experiences, Cox acknowledged that the true test lies in whether the team can rally together under adversity or succumb to internal challenges. As the Eagles navigate through red-zone struggles, narrow victories, and turnovers, Cox, along with other leaders, recognizes the pivotal moment for genuine leadership to emerge and guide the team through its current setbacks.
The Eagles’ recent game against the Cowboys underscored some of the challenges they face, including red-zone difficulties for the defense and critical turnovers by key offensive players. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, three of the team’s top contributors, all had fumbles in pivotal moments of the game. These issues emphasize the need for the team to address fundamental aspects of their performance, from ball security to executing in critical situations. As they assess these areas for improvement, the Eagles look to their leaders, including Cox himself, to foster a resilient and determined spirit within the team and navigate the path to success in a competitive NFL landscape.
Jalen hurts press conference today
Philadelphia Eagles Suffer Back-to-Back Losses for the First Time This Season: Following Last Week’s Defeat to San Francisco, Team Falls Again.
“We’ve got to internalize that and make sure that the adversity we’re facing right now becomes a catalyst for improvement,” stated coach Nick Sirianni. The Philadelphia Eagles, who recently experienced back-to-back losses, are determined to navigate through challenges and emerge stronger. Having triumphed in seven one-score games this season, the Eagles look ahead to their final four matchups, none against teams with winning records, starting with a game against Seattle (6-7) next week.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who hadn’t encountered consecutive losses since October 2021, faced early setbacks in the recent game against the Cowboys. Hurts, starting with a deficit, fumbled at the end of a run on the Cowboys’ 20-yard line, and his reaction, heading to the sideline without protest, reflected the team’s commitment to addressing and overcoming adversity. Receiver A.J. Brown exhibited a similar response after being stripped of the ball around midfield in the second half. As the Eagles analyze these moments, they strive to turn adversity into an opportunity for growth and improvement.
“We’ve got to hold on to the ball, but we’re trying to make plays,” said Brown.
The Cowboys successfully scored all three times inside the 20, leading to opposing teams achieving points 70.4% of the time (31 of 44) when reaching the red zone against Philadelphia. The Eagles entered the game ranked 30th in the NFL in that category.
Philadelphia was the NFL’s only 8-1 team and held a two-game division lead after a 28-23 victory at home over the Cowboys on Nov. 5. Despite Dallas nearly pulling off a comeback in that game, going 81 yards in 46 seconds on the final drive — aided by 56 yards of penalties — CeeDee Lamb was tackled at the 5 as time expired after a 22-yard gain.
With five consecutive wins, Dallas (10-3) has maintained its momentum. However, their next two games are on the road against the AFC East’s top teams, Buffalo (7-6) and Miami (9-3). The Cowboys then return home to face NFC North-leading Detroit (9-4) in their home finale before concluding the season at Washington.
Following the matchup against the Seahawks, Philadelphia has two remaining games against the Giants (4-8) — one at home and the other in New York in the regular-season finale. The Eagles’ home finale is against Arizona (3-10) between those NFC East games.
“You can’t even look that far ahead,” Brown said. “We play Seattle next week. That’s the only thing we need to worry about.”
INJURIES
Eagles safety Reed Blankenship was declared out with a concussion after exiting the game in the first half. On the Cowboys’ side, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins had to be assisted off the field due to an ankle injury in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Eagles: They will be playing at Seattle on Monday, December 18. The Seahawks’ recent loss at San Francisco implies that Philadelphia won’t be up against a team with a winning record in its remaining four games.
Cowboys: Their next game is at Buffalo next Sunday, the first of back-to-back road matchups against AFC East playoff contenders. The second game is against division-leading Miami.