Nick Sirianni or Jalen Hurts: Who Deserves More Blame for Eagles’ Offensive Collapse?

The Philadelphia Eagles have a quarterback in Jalen Hurts making $51 million annually and a head coach, Nick Sirianni, with a Super Bowl championship on his résumé. Yet somehow, neither seems capable of figuring out how to move the football right now. Sirianni and Hurts have spent years proving critics wrong, but Philadelphia's latest performances are giving those same critics plenty of ammunition.

Seventeen consecutive failed third-down attempts. Just 27 points over two games. Those numbers would be embarrassing for a rebuilding team, let alone one with championship expectations.

Injuries have certainly contributed, but there's a legitimate argument over who should shoulder most of the blame, and it comes down to Sirianni and Hurts.

Hurts Isn't Playing Like a Franchise Quarterback

Jalen Hurts was awful against the Los Angeles Rams . There's no reason to sugarcoat it.

Twelve completions on 27 attempts for 93 yards . Philadelphia managed 172 total yards, which is difficult to accomplish with an NFL offense unless practically everything goes wrong.

Hurts certainly hasn't had much help. The Eagles are missing several important offensive players, including Lane Johnson, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley.

Still, that's what makes the criticism interesting. Is Hurts a quarterback who elevates the players around him, or does he need an exceptional supporting cast to be successful?

It's a question that's followed him for years.

Sirianni and Hurts won a championship together, but Hurts now has an opportunity to demonstrate that his value extends beyond the talent surrounding him.

He hasn't done much to settle that argument lately.

There were opportunities against Los Angeles to make plays, and Philadelphia's offense repeatedly failed to capitalize. Some of that comes down to protection, but Hurts can't escape responsibility for his own decisions.

When a quarterback commands that kind of salary, expectations don't disappear simply because a few starters are unavailable.

Sirianni Can't Keep Pointing to Injuries

Sirianni deserves credit for navigating Philadelphia through previous difficult stretches. His team looked finished at various points in 2024 before eventually winning the Super Bowl.

But past accomplishments don't explain what's happening now.

Sean Mannion is calling plays, and Philadelphia's offense has become painfully predictable. The Eagles went 0-for-12 on third down against Los Angeles. At some point, someone has to recognize that whatever they're trying isn't working.

That responsibility falls on the head coach.

Sirianni and Hurts have worked together long enough that the coaching staff should understand what the quarterback does well. Instead, Philadelphia looks like an offense trying to figure out its identity during the regular season.

Hurts can miss a throw or make a poor decision. Sirianni is responsible for ensuring those mistakes don't become part of a larger pattern.

Philadelphia has changed coordinators and shuffled personnel, yet the same questions keep coming up. Why does the offense struggle to adjust when its initial approach fails? Why do opposing defenses seem capable of dictating how the Eagles operate?

Those questions extend beyond Sirianni and Hurts.

Philadelphia's Problems Go Beyond Sirianni and Hurts

The injuries are real. Johnson's retirement, Cam Jurgens' departure, and the absence of other offensive contributors have forced Philadelphia to make significant adjustments. Unfortunately, the blame goes beyond just Sirianni and Hurts.

Nobody should expect the Eagles to look identical to their championship team. But asking them to convert an occasional third down doesn't seem unreasonable.

Sirianni and Hurts have enough experience to make adjustments without waiting for every injured player to return.

The offensive line needs help. The quarterback needs better protection. The play-calling needs to account for both.

Those are coaching problems as much as personnel problems.

Philadelphia also needs to reconsider how much it's asking Hurts to do. If the protection isn't holding up, quicker throws and simpler reads could help establish some rhythm.

The Eagles don't need every offensive possession to produce a touchdown. They need to stop putting their defense back on the field after three plays.

Hurts deserves criticism for his recent performances. A franchise quarterback has to provide more than 93 passing yards when his team needs him.

But Sirianni deserves more of the blame.

He oversees the offense, approves the approach, and ultimately answers for the results. The Eagles shouldn't need a completely healthy roster just to sustain a drive.

Sirianni and Hurts have earned their reputations through years of success. Neither should lose that credibility because of two bad games.

However, Philadelphia's problems aren't limited to two poor afternoons. The inability to adjust offensively has become a recurring concern, and the current injuries have exposed just how dependent the team has been on its established stars.

Hurts needs to execute the plays. Sirianni needs to make sure they're worth executing.

And if Philadelphia continues struggling, the head coach will have a much harder time explaining why nothing has changed.