4 takeaways from the Eagles’ offensive collapse vs. Bears

· Yahoo Sports

For about two minutes at the end of the first half, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like the offense everyone envisioned during the offseason. Jalen Hurts operated efficiently. DeVonta Smith found space. The offensive line protected well enough. The ball moved quickly and decisively downfield.

The other 58 minutes told a different story. Philadelphia scored only seven points in a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears, continuing several offensive trends that have followed the Eagles through the season's first three games.

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Philadelphia's offense took a significant step backward. Sustaining drives was a struggle. There was no second-half momentum. It was all negative, but there weren't enough positives. Long stretches of inconsistency and frustration overwhelmed the flashes. Here are four major observations from Philadelphia's offensive performance.

Cam Jurgens may not have anything left.

The Eagles need better play from the interior of their offensive line, but the question is whether they can. Cam Jurgens allowed four pressures against the Bears, continuing a troubling trend through the season's first three games.

The Eagles have asked him to handle a significant role, but the results haven't been good enough. Whether the issue is health, fit, or declining play, Philadelphia needs answers quickly because offensive line instability has a way of infecting everything else.

The difficult reality is that the Eagles have already made a substantial financial commitment. Even if Philadelphia eventually decides to go another way, that decision won't come without consequences. For now, the coaching staff has little choice but to continue searching for solutions. The question is whether they'll stick with Jurgens stubbornly.

The Eagles have scored six third-quarter points all season

The third quarter continues to be a problem. Philadelphia has won the coin toss in all three games and deferred each time. The logic is understandable. Put the defense on the field first, then capitalize by receiving the second-half kickoff.

The problem is that the second-half spark hasn't materialized. The Eagles have scored just six points in the third quarter all season. Against Chicago, they opened the second half with three consecutive three-and-outs and generated virtually no offensive momentum while the Bears seized control of the game.

Whatever happened to Tanner McKee?

The backup quarterback conversation is getting harder to ignore. Tanner McKee hasn't forced the issue with his recent performances, but it's fair to wonder why he still sits behind Andy Dalton on the depth chart. When Hurts briefly exited Monday night's game, Dalton entered and threw an interception on his only pass attempt.

That sequence immediately reignited a discussion many Eagles fans have been having for weeks. Once, McKee would have been the obvious next man up. Instead, he remains a healthy scratch while Philadelphia continues placing its trust in Dalton. The coaching staff clearly sees something it values, but from the outside, the decision is getting harder to understand.

Let's talk about that final drive of the first half.

Amid the frustration, one genuinely encouraging sequence stood out. Philadelphia's offense looked sharp during its final possession of the second quarter. Hurts completed five of six passes for 65 yards and operated with confidence and urgency. With no time remaining for a spike, he finished the drive the way Eagles fans have seen so many times before, plunging into the end zone on a quarterback sneak.

The drive covered 67 yards and represented the offense at its best. The ball came out on time. The Eagles attacked downfield. Hurts looked decisive. Most importantly, the unit played with rhythm. That sequence is worth remembering because it looked far different from the offense Philadelphia showed for much of the evening.

The frustrating part about Monday night's loss is that the Eagles briefly showed exactly what they can become. For one drive, the offense looked efficient, aggressive, and confident. Then the second half began, and everything unraveled. As Philadelphia turns its attention to the Los Angeles Rams, replicating that late-second-quarter execution for four quarters may be the biggest challenge facing Nick Sirianni, Sean Mannion, and Jalen Hurts.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 4 takeaways from the Eagles’ offensive collapse vs. Bears

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