A Philadelphia team that came into the season as recent Super Bowl winners but can’t get into gear. A Washington team with a double digit loss season a year after landing a franchise QB.
What decade is this?
John Stolnis is correct, this isn’t 2023 all over again. If this season is a repeat, it’s a repeat of 2018. Consider:
- In their first 13 games, the 2018 Eagles were outgained by their opponents, an average of 31.3 yards per game. For the rest of the season, including playoffs, the 2018 Eagles would outgain their opponents, though the bulk of that yardage differential, 271 yards, came in a shutout win over Washington. In their first 13 games, the 2025 Eagles were outgained by their opponents, an average of 34.9 yards per game. They just had a 312 yardage differential in a shutout win over Las Vegas.
- The 2018 Eagles, having lost their offensive coordinator (though one who did not call plays) late in the cycle, promoted from within and got it wrong, and finished 18th in points per game. The 2025 Eagles, having lost their offensive coordinator (who did call plays) late in the cycle, promoted from within and are currently 18th in points per game.
Or maybe it’s 2019.
- Out of their Week 10 bye the 2019 offense, which was already disappointing in the first half of the season, the team scored a measly 10 points, and followed that up with a 9 point performance, and a three game losing streak from the end of November to the beginning of December. The 2025 Eagles followed their Week 9 bye with a 10 point performance, and followed that up with an equally uninspiring 16 point game. They too had a three game losing streak from the end of November to the beginning of December.
- The 2019 team ended the season on a 4 game win streak, starting with a win over the 4-12 Giants, who they would play and beat twice and would fire their coach, a 3-13 Washington team, and the 8-8 Cowboys. They then lost to the Seahawks in the first round. The 2025 Eagles just pounded the Raiders, who will probably fire their coach. They too play a bad divisional opponent twice in Washington. In the first round the Eagles will likely play the 3rd place NFC West team, which, looking at remaining schedules, very well could be… the Seahawks.
Meanwhile Washington is running back their own version of the 2010s.
- In 2012 they drafted Heisman winner Robert Griffin III 2nd overall, and won double digit games–and the division–in his rookie year, and did it without a lot of help for the QB other than RB Alfred Morris. The team’s leading receiver had just 633 yards, the defense was 22nd in points per game. But they found their QB, who won Rookie of the Year, the franchise had turned around in an instant. Including the playoffs, Washington went 7-1 to end the season.
- In 2024 Washington drafted Heisman winner Jayden Daniels 2nd overall, and won double digit games–not enough to win the division but enough to win three other divisions had they been in them–in his rookie year, and did it without a lot of help for the QB other than WR Terry McLaurin. The team’s leading rusher that wasn’t Jayden Daniels had just 799 yards. But they found their QB, who won Rookie of the Year, the franchise had turned around in an instant. Including the playoffs, Washington went 7-1 to end the season.
Both teams followed it up with miserable seasons. The 2013 team went 3-13, including an eight game losing streak. The 2025 team is sitting at 4-10, having already completed their own eight game losing streak. And in both seasons, the franchise QB didn’t play like one.
Stat |
RGIII |
Daniels |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 Comp % | 65.6 | 69 |
| Y2 Comp % | 60.1 | 60.6 |
| Diff | -5.5 | -8.4 |
| Y1 TD% | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Y2 TD% | 3.5 | 4.3 |
| Diff | -1.6 | -0.9 |
| Y1 Y/A | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| Y2 Y/A | 7 | 6.7 |
| Diff | -1.1 | -0.7 |
| Y1 Rush Y/A | 6.8 | 6 |
| Y2 Rush Y/A | 5.7 | 4.8 |
| Diff | -1.1 | -1.2 |
| Y1 Rush TD | 7 | 6 |
| Y2 Rush TD | 0 | 2 |
| Diff | -7 | -4 |
When running the ball is an integral part of a QB’s game and they aren’t as effective running the ball, their passing efficiency suffers. We see it pretty much every year around the league, and this year it’s happening to Jalen Hurts.
We’ve also seen these seasons before from both teams. And with another matchup in two weeks, we’ll be getting re-gifted twice this holiday season. Bah humbug.
See More:
