Eagles

Why are the Eagles Going Five-Wide on 3rd and 2 Anyway?

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Dec 10th, 2025 · 10:08 AM EST

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As we go back through the film from Monday night’s loss in LA, this one is particularly annoying for many reasons:

Breaking Down Hurts 4 Interceptions

3rd and 2, the Eagles are in Empty. Hurts looks to the top and sees the blitzer, likely believing its Cover 0, which the Chargers showed on the previous drive.

He tries to work the juke route to AJ and throws it with blind faith directly… pic.twitter.com/7qcnUQdNR0

— Eagles Eric (@EaglesXsandOs) December 9, 2025

The interception has been analyzed a bunch, but what’s the point of going empty here in the first place?

To set the scene, it’s 3rd and 2. You’re in 11 personnel with Saquon Barkley off the field and Will Shipley lined up wide right. The Eagles had two big chunk plays earlier on this drive, the first a 16-yard gain to Dallas Goedert after they ran a wrinkle on a max protect with 21 personnel and leaked the tight end late. On the very next play, they brought in Cam Latu as a lead blocker, put Jalen Hurts under center, and hit A.J. Brown on a play-action pass for 21 yards.

After that?

They go right back to the shotgun and hand the ball to Saquon for no gain. Jalen then scrambles for eight yards to set up 3rd and 2 at the Chargers’ 21, and they spread ’em out and throw a bad pick to kill the drive.

That’s the frustrating thing about this Eagles offense, the fact that they get a little creative and rip off some big gains, then it comes to a screeching halt with a stuffed run and a third-down call that makes no sense. If Saquon needs a breather, put Hurts under center and hand the ball to Tank Bigsby. Even if he gets one yard, you’ve set up 4th and 1, and the 2024 Eagles line up for the tush push and move the sticks without thinking twice. Now they’ve got a banged-up and ineffective offensive line and they don’t trust the tush push. They don’t even trust their ability to pick up two yards on the ground in four-down territory, and if that’s the case, then this offense can’t work.

That’s why I keep harping on the offensive line and the play calling. Jalen had a poor game on Monday night, no doubt about it, and A.J. Brown left a handful of plays out there, but when they can’t run, or don’t run, or overthink things that were automatic decisions last season, then you’re always going to look janky and disjointed on offense.