From PhillyVoice · · 3m
Eagles survive sloppy Week 2, Hurts delivers in clutch
Philadelphia moves to 2-0 with a last-second touchdown, but the defense and second-half offense raise concerns.
In brief
Philadelphia moves to 2-0 with a last-second touchdown, but the defense and second-half offense raise concerns. Jalen Hurts' ability to bail out his team in tight moments masks deeper issues with consistency on both sides of the ball. Originally reported by PhillyVoice.
Eagles escape with last-second win
Philadelphia drove 65 yards in the final moments to beat Tennessee 24-20, moving to 2-0. Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper in the end zone with nine seconds left after two incredible sideline completions to DeVonta Smith.
First-half offense shows real promise
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion's scheme looked sharp early, with the Eagles generating 15 first downs and 14 points in just 20 minutes. They had more first downs against Tennessee in one half than they did against Washington in a full game.
Second half collapses into chaos
The Eagles abandoned their first-half success, committing penalties and going three-and-out repeatedly. Hurts threw his second interception with the game tied in the fourth quarter, forcing him to bail out the offense late.
DeVonta Smith delivers in clutch
Smith had one of his most impressive performances as a pro, making two jaw-dropping sideline catches late in the game that set up the winning touchdown. His toe-tapper receptions were crucial to the Eagles' final drive.
Hyped defense underperforms again
The Eagles' defense, predicted to be even better than their top-5 unit from 2025, managed just two sacks and zero turnovers against Tennessee. Cam Ward threw for only 169 yards, but the unit failed to create pressure or force mistakes.
Pass rush struggles to finish
Despite getting into the backfield often, the Eagles couldn't consistently sack Ward or force turnovers. The defense gave up a 27-yard run on third-and-22, a play that elite units typically don't allow.
Jalen Carter's sack saves the day
With Tennessee threatening to score, Carter delivered a crucial sack inside the 10-yard line that forced the Titans to settle for a field goal. That play proved decisive, but Carter left the game with an injury.
Hurts bails out inconsistent team
The Eagles' quarterback made one jaw-dropping play after another in the final moments, overcoming a mediocre defense and an offense that couldn't sustain drives. His clutch performance masks deeper questions about team consistency.
Offense needs to sustain success
The Eagles face the Bears' porous defense in Week 3, a chance to prove the first-half offensive improvements weren't a fluke. Consistency for 60 minutes would be far better than relying on Hurts to create magic late.
Defense must prove doubters wrong
With two weeks of underwhelming performances, the Eagles' defense has failed to live up to preseason hype. Getting Carter healthy and generating more turnovers will be critical to silencing questions about the unit's elite status.
Pattern of close wins raises questions
The Eagles have now won two games by narrow margins without dominant performances. Whether they're a team that thrives in close games or one with deeper talent issues remains unclear after two weeks.
The takeaway
Jalen Hurts' ability to bail out his team in tight moments masks deeper issues with consistency on both sides of the ball.
