Former NFL HC gives clear verdict on defense-led Eagles amid Jalen Hurts' and offensive struggles

Rex Ryan didn't completely shut down Jalen Hurts' Philadelphia Eagles after their win on Sunday versus the Buffalo Bills. The former coach didn't mince words when discussing which unit deserves credit for keeping the team afloat.

Ryan spent years coaching the Jets and the Bills before transitioning to television.

He addressed Philadelphia's Week 17 performance on Monday and what it means moving forward.

"Final word is that the Eagles are a hell of a lot better than people think," Ryan said, via "Get Up." "And I get it, the offensive struggle, but this is a championship caliber defense. Healthy and playing at home is gonna be critical."

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The numbers back up Ryan's claim. Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his unit blanked Josh Allen through two quarters. Nine straight drives ended without points before fatigue became a factor.

Ryan believes health and location will determine January success for Jalen Hurts & Co.

NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills - Source: Imagn

Rex Ryan specifically mentioned two factors that could swing playoff games. His point about staying healthy makes sense given how much the Eagles defense has already done. Home field gives the team another edge.

Jalen Hurts looked solid early, completing 14 of 21 attempts with a touchdown and a 96.3 passer rating. However, everything stopped working after.

He threw zero completions after halftime. Hurts did that twice in 2024, both resulting in wins. No other quarterback has multiple victories without a second-half completion since the league started tracking that data in 1991.

Philadelphia scraped out a 13-12 victory because the defense kept answering. Jalen Carter swatted away an extra point try. Buffalo couldn't convert on fourth down or punch in a 2-point attempt. The offense contributed nothing in the final 30 minutes, but the Eagles still went home victorious.

Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez