The Las Vegas Raiders bring a seven-game losing streak to Philadelphia on Sunday to face an Eagles team trying to avoid a repeat of 2023.
The only previous meeting between coaches Pete Carroll of the Raiders (2-11) and Nick Sirianni of the Eagles (8-5) occurred during Philadelphia’s late-season swoon two years ago.
Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks beat the visiting Eagles 20-17. That game, which was also played in Week 15, was part of a 1-5 collapse for Philadelphia after a 10-1 start.
Until Monday night, that Seahawks-Eagles contest was also the last time Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts finished a game with multiple interceptions and zero touchdown passes.
After throwing just two interceptions in the first 12 games this season, Hurts was picked off four times in Monday’s 22-19 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — the last one to end the game in overtime.
Sirianni chose to see the glass as half full in his weekly appearance Wednesday on 94 WIP.
“There was a lot of good things on offense on Monday night,” he said. “It was really good defense, it was really good special teams and there were a lot of good things on offense.
“I come away encouraged from that game, knowing that we have things to clean up. … No one is pressing, everyone is just thinking, how do we get ourselves in the best position to win this game and play our best game?”
It was the third straight loss for the Eagles, their longest streak since dropping their last two regular-season games and the playoff opener in the 2023 season. They still lead the NFC East over the Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1) but this untimely swoon has dropped them two games behind the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in the race for the No. 1 seed.
Philadelphia has turned the ball over nine times during its three-game slide after posting only four giveaways during its 8-2 start to the season.
The margin for error is too small right now for the defending Super Bowl champions to survive such miscues against Las Vegas.
Carroll’s Raiders are just 1-11 since a Week 1 win against the New England Patriots that now seems incomprehensible. Their only other win came in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans, who are now 2-11.
Still, three of their defeats in the current skid have been one-score games, including last week’s 24-17 home setback against the division-leading Denver Broncos.
“It’s super frustrating,” rookie running back Ashton Jeanty told reporters Wednesday. “… We’ve just got to continue to find ways to clean up our play and execute better when it matters the most.”
“I do think a lot of times all it takes is one play, one spark to change the direction of the game … to lead towards wins,” Jeanty added.
The Raiders have finished with fewer than 250 yards of offense in four of their last five games. Geno Smith was sacked 28 times over that same span and entered the week tied for the NFL lead with 14 interceptions this season.
Smith left the loss to Denver with a right shoulder injury, potentially giving backup Kenny Pickett a shot at his former team. Pickett won a ring with Philadelphia last season, appearing in five games in the regular season and beat Dallas in a Week 17 start. Aidan O’Connell is also available after returning from a fractured wrist.
Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since Week 4. Smith did not practice and tight end Michael Mayer (ankle) was limited. Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. has cleared concussion protocol.
Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) and defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) did not practice Wednesday and left guard Landon Dickerson (calf) was limited.
The forecast in Philadelphia on Sunday calls for snow and temperatures in the low 30s.
The all-time series between these teams is tied at 7-7, including the Raiders’ 27-10 win in Super Bowl XV.
–Field Level Media
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