That 27-7 beatdown the Eagles took from Ben Johnson’s Bears in Chicago last night? Yeah, we probably should’ve seen it coming. For real, this team has been playing with fire since Week 1, barely scraping by the Commanders 24-22, then needing a last-second play to beat the Titans, who were literally the second-worst team in the NFL last season, 24-20. The defense has looked shaky from the jump, giving up soft yards to weaker opponents. Jalen Hurts has been playing hero ball just to keep the offense afloat. So when they faced a superior opponent like the Bears, the house of cards collapsed. Hurts couldn’t bail out the offensive line anymore, and the defensive line just disappeared.
Defense? What Defense?
Seriously, Vic Fangio’s unit, which got so much hype in training camp, has been a massive letdown. They’re giving up an average of 23.0 points per game through three outings, sitting 16th in the NFL. Can you believe they only have three sacks total and haven’t forced a single turnover yet? Their turnover differential is a brutal -5. Sumer Sports backs it up: they’re 23rd in EPA/play and 20th in success rate. The secondary was broken all game, letting third-string QB Case Keenum , yes, the same guy from the 2017 NFC Championship Game against them , shred them for 247 yards, 2 TDs, and zero picks, with a 110.8 rating. Mukuba, Epps, and Carter II are missing tackles and blowing assignments, while Jihaad Campbell hasn’t filled the void left by Nakobe Dean’s absence.
Money Talks, But the D-Line Isn’t Listening
But the real gut punch has to be the defensive line, dude. They got *paid* and are delivering zilch on their preseason promise. We’re talking Jalen Carter signing a 4-year, $152 million extension with $107 million guaranteed this offseason. Jordan Davis got a 3-year, $78 million deal with $64 million guaranteed. And Jonathan Greenard, traded from Minnesota, snagged a 4-year, $98 million extension. Young guys like Moro Ojomo and Nolan Smith are looking for their big deals, and Jalyx Hunt is probably next in line. Greenard just came back from two weeks on the injured list, so maybe you cut him a little slack, but everyone else? There’s no excuse. The investment is huge, and the returns are nonexistent.
This 27-7 loss to the Bears needs to be a massive wake-up call for this squad. Next up, they’ve got the Giants. Given how things are looking, this isn’t just another game. The whole league is watching to see if they can turn this around, or if this early season struggle is just the beginning.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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