The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have been a hard team to figure out in 2025. After making history back in February, coach Nick Sirianni and his squad have looked flat in several games this season, and it was never more glowingly obvious than when one of their signature plays helped scribble out any chance they had on Black Friday against the Chicago Bears.
The Bears (now 9-3) defeated Philadelphia, 24-15, in an effort that seemed greater than the final score indicated. That left the Eagles (8-4) scrambling for answers as they look to hold on to the NFC East title.
It was the tush push, the aided quarterback sneak on close yardage plays, that Philly has been able to rely on the last couple of seasons. However, with the Eagles deep in Chicago territory, on third-and-1 at the 12-yard line, they called for their trademark Jalen Hurts run. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, as Nahshon Wright came from the side, pulled the ball loose from Hurts’ grasp, and recovered the ensuing fumble.
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“It’s becoming tougher and tougher,” Hurts said about the play, according to The Athletic. “But ultimately, me holding onto the ball, that’s something I can control.”
“I was hoping that (the forward progress) was stopped, but it wasn’t,” Hurts said. “It was kind of similar to the New York game except that they just didn’t blow the whistle as soon. That’s not to point the finger at anyone else. I mean, I have to hold onto the ball... It’s something that we and I need to tighten up.”
Hurts has earned Eagles fans' ire in 2025
Less than a year after guiding the team to its second-ever Super Bowl win, Hurts has seemingly fallen out of favor with a percentage of the Eagles' fan base. Even in a traditionally tough sports town like Philadelphia, that's a pretty short rope for the two-time Pro Bowler.
While the Eagles are still easily in the mix for a playoff spot, anxiety has been growing in the City of Brotherly Love. In 2024, the squad played some of its best football down the stretch. However, they've lost two weeks in a row now, and they look shaky on offense, averaging just 18 ppg in those last couple of contests.
While it's not just on the shoulders of Hurts, he has been hit hard on social media by fickle Philly fans who are up in arms, despite the team still commanding first place. The entire playbook, tush push and all, will have to come together, and they must limit their mistakes if they are going to have a chance to lift the Lombardi Trophy once again in February.