Quarterback Jalen Hurts delivered the worst performance of his professional career, committing five turnovers, including a decisive interception in overtime, as the Eagles fell to the Los Angeles Chargers 22-19 Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
The Birds (8-5), who were No. 1 in the NFC just three weeks ago, have lost three in a row and watched their playoff seeding slip to third, behind the Rams and Packers (both of whom they beat). They’ve even left a door cracked for Dallas in the divisional race.
Here are five things we learned.
1. Hurts is losing the ball again
Hurts became the first player to turn the ball over twice on the same play, dating back to 1978, which is as far back as such records go, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
During the second quarter, the reigning Super Bowl MVP threw an interception to Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, who fumbled during the return. Hurts picked up the ball, only to fumble it away himself when he was hit.
Overall, Hurts finished 21 of 40 for 240 yards with four picks, a fumble, zero touchdowns and a 31.2 passer rating. He has seven turnovers in his last two games, reminiscent of when he led the league in turnovers from the start of 2023 through the first four games of 2024.
The last time the Eagles as a team turned the ball over five times was in a 17-9 loss to Seattle Nov. 24, 2019. QB Carson Wentz committed four of them.
2. Hurts isn’t seeing the field
Despite some head-scratching play-calling and odd sequences, such as getting a first-and-goal from the Chargers’ 2-yard line and settling for a field goal, Hurts just wasn’t making the reads.
After his first two options, he often wasn’t taking his checkdown throws, especially if they were over the middle to an open A.J. Brown or Dallas Goedert. Yet, another time he tried to force the ball to Brown in the middle of the field.
Also, Hurts ran out of the back of the pocket several times when his first read wasn’t there and simply didn’t look at wide open receivers. And he didn’t appear to recognize the Chargers’ defensive tendencies, such as corners jumping routes or linemen dropping into coverage.
Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) intercepts a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson (2) during overtime of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
3. Eagles’ defense is back
When Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter was on the field this season, opponents averaged 4.2 yards per rush compared to 5.1 when he wasn’t. And the sack percentage was 6.1 with him on the field versus 2.6 when he wasn’t.
His impact is undeniable, but with Carter out week-to-week recovering from surgeries on both his shoulders, the Birds’ defense barely missed a beat against the Chargers (9-4). The Eagles held Los Angeles to 4.4 yards per carry and knocked around QB Justin Herbert all night, sacking him seven times and hitting him 11.
Their only real slip-ups were when Herbert ran the ball himself (10-66). Ironically, Hurts only ran four times for 8 yards — the Eagles are trying to protect him more than in years past — but Herbert scrambled around with abandon despite a surgically repaired left hand.
The Birds’ defense clearly bounced back after a couple of uncharacteristic performances against the Cowboys and Bears. However, the Eagles’ sputtering offense again didn’t pull its weight. The Chargers had the ball nearly 10 minutes longer than the Birds did. This, a week after Chicago nearly doubled up the Eagles on time of possession — a trend that leaves Philly’s defense on the field for far too long.
In the Eagles’ five losses this year, opponents have won time of possession by an average of 7:09.
4. Saquon still has it
Saquon Barkley looked like himself, rushing 20 times for 122 yards, including a 52-yard TD burst to open the fourth quarter. He unfortunately missed a wide open cutback to the outside in overtime, which had the potential to go to the house, but his field vision was otherwise good as he found creases and pounded out consistent yardage.
Yet, puzzlingly, with the game knotted at 16 late in regulation while driving for a go-head score, the Eagles got away from the run game, which helped leave time on the clock for the Chargers to tie it at 19 with a late field goal.
By the way, in his last two games in SoFi (last year against the Rams and Monday against the Chargers), Barkley has 377 combined rushing yards and three touchdowns.
5. Brown has no room to talk
Receiver A.J. Brown, who was vocal earlier in the season about his lack of inclusion in the offense, had six catches on 13 targets for 100 yards, including a 26-yarder, against the Chargers Monday. But he also had three drops, including a deep ball in the end zone that could have won the game.
He showed alligator arms on a throw over the middle as three defenders closed in. It was a high throw by Hurts but didn’t completely hang Brown out to dry.
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