PHILADELPHIA, PA—For the first four weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles doing what they had to do, standing as one of the last few unbeaten teams in the NFL. That all came to a crashing halt on Sunday in a shocking 21-17 home loss to the Denver Broncos. After cruising to a 17-3 lead late in the third quarter, the offense stalled completely, and the defense finally cracked, allowing 18 unanswered points in a collapse that will sting for days.
The final quarter was frustrating for the offense. Five drives resulted in four consecutive punts and an end-of-game Hail Mary attempt that fell incomplete, totaling a meager 48 yards. Predictably, the hot takes are already flying. The calls for sweeping changes are echoing across talk radio and social media.
But let’s take a deep breath, Eagles Nation. It is Week 5. The season is not lost, and the sky is not falling. Maybe it’s the optimist in me. Or it could be the facts sitting in front of us. Here is why you should keep that panic button firmly unpressed.
1. The Record Still Speaks for Itself
First and foremost, the most important number remains in our favor: 4-1.
Despite the bitter taste of defeat, the Eagles are still sitting atop the NFC East standings. One loss, even a tough one, does not erase the four victories that preceded it. They have banked wins, and that is what matters for playoff positioning. This team is still filled with a Super Bowl-caliber roster and is a legitimate contender in the NFC. A loss on a Sunday in October is a learning experience, not a death sentence.
2. The Collapse Was a Correctable, Obvious Problem: Play-Calling Balance
The most glaring flaw in Sunday’s performance was the inexplicable abandonment of the running game.
Star running back Saquon Barkley was visibly underutilized, finishing the game with a paltry six carries for 30 yards. As a team, the Eagles ran the ball just 11 times total for only 44 net yards. This came after the team held a comfortable 17-3 lead.
It’s understandable to lean into the pass—Jalen Hurts threw for 280 yards, and the big-play ability of DeVonta Smith (8 receptions, 114 yards) was on display. However, completely ignoring the run game in the second half—especially with the lead—is a recipe for disaster, as it puts unnecessary pressure on the passing game and gives the defense no need to respect the run.
The fix here is on the coaching staff, specifically Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo. The talent is unquestionable. The play-calling simply needs a return to balance and situational awareness. This is a fixable issue for a coaching staff that has otherwise found success.
3. Star Power Still Flashed
Before the fourth-quarter swoon, the offense showed its electric potential. The Eagles offense found two big scores:
- A deep 47-yard touchdown reception by Saquon Barkley on a wheel route, showcasing his dual-threat ability.
- DeVonta Smith’s 52-yard catch on a third-down play, proving the Eagles can still stretch the field against a talented Broncos secondary.
When healthy and properly deployed, the combination of Hurts, Barkley, A.J. Brown, and Smith is arguably the most dangerous set of offensive skill players in the league. The foundation of this offense is elite, and a single half of dysfunction does not dismantle that fact.
4. It Happens to Everyone
Every championship-contending team has a stinker game. It’s the nature of the NFL. The Broncos, led by a gutty performance from their second-year QB Bo Nix, executed a perfect comeback on the road, sparked by an aggressive two-point conversion call by head coach Sean Payton that gave them the lead. They played a nearly flawless fourth quarter, and the Eagles did the opposite.
This is a tough, gritty league where any team can win on any given Sunday. This loss is a humbling moment for the Eagles, a reminder that effort and execution must be consistent for all four quarters. If they learn from this film—especially the late-game offensive decision-making—it will be a valuable lesson for a Super Bowl push, not a reason to panic.
Like I said earlier it could be the optimist in me. I hate sounding like a “Homer” as my good buddy and fellow podcaster Jim Urban would call me (his Cowboys won he’s going to be unbearable this week). But the fact of the matter remains. The Eagles have the talent, the coaching staff, and the record to quickly rebound. Now, they must prove that they have the mental fortitude to treat this loss as a necessary speed bump and not a sign of things to come.
