The Philadelphia Eagles let a 20-10 fourth-quarter lead disappear in a 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, and their 0-for-12 performance on third down supplied the clearest evidence of an offense that could not finish the game. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 12 of 27 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns as the team fell to 2-2.
Locked On Eagles host Louie DiBiase placed most of the blame on Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni, arguing that the quarterback and coach remain the constants in an offense that has repeatedly stalled after halftime. DiBiase did not call for an immediate change, but he questioned whether the Eagles can contend for a championship if the passing game and situational offense do not improve.
Wide receiver Darius Cooper caught both of Hurts’ touchdown passes, while takeaways and field position helped Philadelphia build its early advantage. The Eagles intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford twice, but the offense failed to score on its final six possessions as Los Angeles rallied with 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points.
DiBiase focused on the goal-line sequence that could have put the game away, saying Hurts needed to make a routine play after a bobbled snap on third-and-goal. He argued that Hurts didn’t need a huge statistical day, but he needed to do more to protect a two-score lead.
Sirianni’s fourth-down decisions were not DiBiase’s primary objection. The host supported the choice to try to extend the lead near the goal line and understood the aggressiveness. His larger criticism was that Sirianni and offensive coordinator Sean Mannion did not find answers when the Eagles faced third down.
Mannion is in his first season as offensive coordinator and first season calling NFL plays. DiBiase said the Eagles cannot continue to rely on one phase of the roster to carry games, particularly when the offense has struggled to sustain drives, create yards after the catch and convert manageable downs.
The defense gave Philadelphia a chance to escape with a win. DiBiase praised Vic Fangio’s group for its turnovers and first-three-quarter performance, but said the loss made the offensive shortcomings harder to overlook because the defense had supplied the opportunities needed to win.
With injuries having sidelined numerous key players on both sides of the ball, Philadelphia heads to London for a Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 11.
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