The Philadelphia Eaglesdidn't need to be perfect to beat theJacksonville Jaguars. They certainly weren't, yet they were still in position to steal one against a seemingly better team.
As with most losses, they needed to make a few more plays. Perhaps that would have pushed them over the top, but we wouldn't even be discussing this if they'd protected a late lead with eight seconds remaining.
Avoidable mistakes can turn a winnable game into another painful flight home.Philadelphia left London with a 19-17 loss, its third consecutive defeat, and more questions about an offense that has struggled to find its identity.
Jalen Hurts wasn't great but played well enough to win. He didn't throw an interception, and the Eagles eventually put together a late
drive that gave Jake Elliott a chance to take the lead. But there was also an ugly side. Hurts and the offense also struggled to sustain drives, and Philadelphia managed just three points in the second half.
Context matters. The Eagles missed key contributors, including DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley, and injuries forced major changes along the offensive line. Hurts was working with a depleted supporting cast, but franchise quarterbacks are judged by what they can do when things go wrong. Sunday's performance offered little late encouragement and not nearly enough consistency overall.
Jalen Hurts' best throws
It won't be remembered weeks from now, but Hurts put some zip on a quick slant to Dontayvion Wicks on third-and-ten with 11:41 remaining in the second quarter. Wicks beat a defender inside, and Hurts connected with the wide receiver before a defender could slide inside to affect the play. Another TD toss to Darius Cooper was also pretty. Cooper leads all Eagles receivers with four trips to the end zone.
Other highlights include a 17-yard gain to Dallas Goedert that moved the offense into position to attempt a go-ahead field goal. Goedert led Philadelphia with six receptions for 38 yards, and the connection gave the Eagles a chance to escape with a victory.
Jalen Hurts' Week 5 final report card
Accuracy and ball location: C-
Hurts completed just 52.5% of his passes, needing 40 attempts to produce 220 yards. The depleted offensive line and limited running-game support made his job harder, but the Eagles needed more efficient play from their quarterback. He avoided disastrous mistakes, but too many passing attempts failed to move the chains.
Vision and dissection: C
Hurts connected with Goedert and Wicks on the late drive, but Philadelphia struggled to sustain offense for much of the afternoon. The passing game never consistently compensated for the lack of production on the ground, leaving the Eagles dependent on a late push to take the lead.
The verdict: Hurts found answers when the game was on the line, but not often enough. His late execution deserves credit, but it doesn't disguise the larger shortcomings. Is he avoiding the mistakes because he's too risk-averse? That's a question we may ask as we move through the season.
Intangibles and off-script plays: C+
Hurts can extend plays and create opportunities with his athleticism, but he didn't improvise enough to change the game's trajectory. With Philadelphia's usual offensive support diminished, the Eagles needed him to manufacture more positive plays when the design broke down.
Decision-making: B
Hurts finished without an interception and helped put Philadelphia in position to win. He deserves credit for protecting the football, especially in a two-point game. The final kickoff coverage failure wasn't his responsibility, and the defeat shouldn't be solely on him just because he plays quarterback.
Leadership: B
Three consecutive losses put pressure on every leader in the locker room, especially the quarterback. Hurts has to help the offense stay composed and find solutions as the team works through injuries and inconsistent execution. The circumstances are difficult, but Philadelphia needs its offense to respond more consistently.
Overall grade: C-
Hurts wasn't the main reason Philadelphia lost in London, but he wasn't the solution to its offensive problems either. His late completions helped the Eagles take a one-point lead, and his ball security prevented the offense from compounding its struggles with a turnover. Those are meaningful positives in an otherwise disappointing performance.
The concern is the limited production over the full game. Hurts completed barely half his passes and threw for 220 yards, leaving Philadelphia partially reliant on a late field goal to take the lead. The special teams breakdown that followed was decisive, but it shouldn't obscure the quarterback's uneven afternoon.
The Eagles need more from Hurts as they try to stop their losing streak. He doesn't have to overcome every injury or coaching mistake alone, but he must deliver more consistency if Philadelphia expects to turn close games into wins.
For now, this was another team performance that fell short of what the Eagles needed from the players available. There's still time, but it may not matter if we've already seen the best this team has to offer.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jalen Hurts Week 5 grades: A trip to London ends with more heartbreak
