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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Philadelphia Eagles’ title defense has taken a sharp turn over the past three weeks.
In Week 14, the Eagles suffered a 22-19 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a game in which Jalen Hurts accounted for five turnovers (four INTs, one lost fumble) — producing Philadelphia’s third straight loss and leaving the defending champions at 8-5.
The defeat capped a three-game stretch in which the offense has failed to sustain drives and has averaged just 18.3 points per game.
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CBS Sports analyst Ross Tucker, in a Friday appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, called it a "fair question" to ask whether Hurts should be benched, citing Philadelphia’s history of success with backup QBs.
"The thing about Philadelphia is there's not only a very high standard, but there's a track record of backup quarterbacks playing really well. You know, the first time they ever won a Super Bowl was with their backup quarterback. Now, that was because Carson Wentz got hurt, but Nick Foles went in there and led them to the Super Bowl."
"So I think there are going to be people there that have said, 'Okay, it's been four or five games now for Hurts where he hasn't played well. Tanner McKee has lit it up every time he's gotten an opportunity. This is the window for the Eagles, and maybe McKee gives them a better chance to win."
"I don't believe that. I highly doubt they would bench Jalen Hurts for a million different reasons. But I do think if Hurts has two more games in a row where he has five turnovers, then it might be a more legitimate question," Tucker added.
Hurts’ 2025 line sits at 2,754 passing yards, 19 TDs, and six interceptions, with a 64.7% completion rate and a 51.9 QBR that ranks 20th among all NFL quarterbacks.
On the roster, Tanner McKee (and veteran Sam Howell behind him) are listed as the backups; McKee has very limited regular-season snaps in 2025 and remains inexperienced as a full-time option.
Even so, the idea of a change is no longer off the table in media circles.
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Head coach Nick Sirianni has publicly shut down bench speculation, calling the idea "ridiculous" and affirming Hurts as the Week 15 starter vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
Given Hurts’ $255 million contract, his leadership role, his recent Super Bowl MVP, and the organization’s investment in the offense around him (A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, the offensive line), an in-season benching remains highly unlikely barring continued, significant decline.
Looking ahead, the Eagles have four games remaining (vs. Raiders, at Washington, at Buffalo, vs. Washington), and still control their own fate in the NFC sitting atop the division at 8-5.
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