The conversation surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles has changed dramatically in less than a month. Four weeks ago, most national outlets viewed them as one of the NFC's most talented rosters. They viewed them as a legitimate contender.
Now, after consecutive losses and a growing list of injuries, the discussion feels very different. Questions about the offense, second-half adjustments, and the team's overall identity have replaced much of the preseason optimism.
The Eagles enter Week 5 having been outscored 31-0 in the second halves of their last two games. They failed to convert any of 12 third-down attempts in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams and managed only 172 total yards. As a result, national analysts have begun moving Philadelphia
down their rankings.
Some remain cautiously optimistic because of the talent on the roster. Others believe the warning signs are becoming impossible to ignore. Here's where several major outlets rank the Eagles heading into Week 5.
USA TODAY
USA TODAY places the Eagles firmly in the NFL's bottom half following consecutive losses. They drop from 19th heading into Week 2 to the 22nd spot with Week 5 on the horizon.
The last time they were this helpless on offense (172 yards on Sunday) was 2014 … when Chip Kelly was the coach and Mark Sanchez the quarterback. -- Nate Davis
ESPN
The Eagles fall five spots from ESPN's last ranking (8th). They're now 13th. Tim McManus offers the following:
"The Eagles have been outscored 31-0 in the second half of their past two games, the worst differential in any two-game span of the Nick Sirianni era. They went 0-for-12 on third down and netted just 68 passing yards against the Rams. Their offensive line is shorthanded and looks disjointed. Star players Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith have hamstring injuries. There is no identity, which is perplexing given Sean Mannion was brought in as offensive coordinator to deliver a scheme that seems to be used only sporadically. And QB Jalen Hurts has fallen off after a strong start. It's a mess right now."
FOX Sports
The Eagles continue a steady but gradual tumble on FOX Sports, which ranked them 11th a week ago. Seven days later, they're now 13th.
"Those alarms you hear in South Philly today are for the Eagles, because they should be very worried by the way they are playing right now. Once again, Jalen Hurts and the offense look out of sync. And while the defense — the secondary in particular — did a great job against the Rams for most of their Week 4 showdown, they absolutely collapsed in the final seven minutes. And now they are banged up, with injuries to WR DeVonta Smith, RB Saquon Barkley, LB Zach Baun, OL Landon Dickerson and quite a few more." -- Ralph Vacchiano
CBS Sports
CBS Sports agrees with FOX Sports and also ranks the Eagles 13th. On the CBS platform, that's a drop of two spots from 11 heading into Week 5
"They have so many injuries right now, but that's no excuse for blowing the Rams game. The offense is bad as they head to London to play the Jaguars." -- Pete Prisco
The rankings themselves are noteworthy, but the reasoning behind them is even more revealing. While the outlets disagree on exactly where Philadelphia belongs, they all arrive at a similar conclusion. The Eagles have talent, but the offense has become the story for all the wrong reasons.
Whether the concern centers on Jalen Hurts, Sean Mannion's scheme, injuries, protection issues, or second-half collapses, the national conversation has become increasingly critical. Fortunately for Philadelphia, perceptions can change quickly in October. A strong performance in London could stop the slide and restore some confidence. Another uneven outing will only strengthen the belief that the Eagles are much further from contention than many expected entering the season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Power Rankings Roundup: Where do the Eagles stand entering Week 5?
