Philadelphia, PA
- The latest NFL season has not been good for the Philadelphia Eagles. Over the first five games, the Eagles have not scored a single touchdown, and odds are long that they will over the next few games. Fans have been highly disappointed in the team, as quarterback Jalen Hurts has a surprising and horrible passing record, coming in with a 59.3 rating, the third worst in the league.
Will the team see a turnaround in the coming weeks? Or are the Eagles destined to continue their first-quarter no-score streak?
A Disappointing First Five Games
In the first five games of the NFL season, the Eagles have been off their game. A total of 77 plays have been run with ten drives. Around 3.3 yards are averaged per rush, so they are getting nowhere. Two turnovers have also been committed in their time frame.
The first quarters have resulted in zero touchdowns or field goals, leading to zero points on the board. Unfortunately, the Eagles are the fourth team in the NFL to go scoreless in the first quarter of the first five games in fifteen years!
This season is the first time the Eagles have failed to produce a first-quarter score in their first five games since 1934. 2023 it took eight games before the Eagles could score in the first quarter. This is bad for the team’s morale and something everyone is trying to work on.
Missed Opportunities
According to quarterback Jalen Hurts, the team has missed some opportunities it has not taken advantage of. Beyond what’s going on with individual players, Hurts feels it’s a matter of getting a first down. He says they would be in a good position once the team gets a first down and can continue moving forward.
With an average of 3.3 yards per rush, the first down is essentially three plays away, making it difficult to gain momentum. Of the 77 plays the Eagles ran in the first quarter of 2024, 33-43% resulted in lost yardage or just a two-yard gain.
Lane Johnson, an offensive tackle for the Eagles, stated that quicker adjustments to play calling and more time might help jump-start the offense sooner. Johnson pointed out that a game plan can be in place, but stuff changes. Having adjustments on the sidelines is just as important to the overall plan of the game.
Scoring After the First Quarter
Once the first quarter is over, the Eagles are doing better, enjoying an above-average score this season. The team is averaging over 21 points for the remainder of the game. Overall, the team is the sixth-highest in the NFL for scoring from the second quarter.
Even though the first quarter is a nightmare, the team is making up the difference as they move into the second, third, and fourth quarters of a matchup. The team is currently 3 and 2 and is second in the NFC East, just behind the Washington Commanders.
Odds are Against the Eagles
Regarding NFL games, sports fans tend to watch as they post sports bets on their favorite teams. For the Eagles, the odds are stacked against them, especially for the first-quarter spread. In the upcoming game against the New York Giants, the team is the underdog to score in the first quarter at -1.5 +130 odds. This is not surprising since it has been so long since the team has earned a first-quarter touchdown or field goal.
Players are more apt to wager on the New York Giants to score in the first quarter, but the Eagles are the favorite to win the matchup at -172 odds on the money line bet. Players can easily place a wager on the Eagles/Giants matchup by taking advantage of sportsbook bonuses or utilizing existing player deals.
The odds are stacked against the Eagles in the first quarter, but if you can hang around until the game's end, they might win. It will be interesting to see if the team can get out of its slump during the Giants matchup or if it will continue to remain scoreless in the first quarter throughout the season.