Will the Eagles ever score in the first quarter again?

They performed 77 pieces. They had 10 trips. They averaged 3.3 yards per rush, gained all 13 first downs and committed two turnovers. And quarterback Jalen Hurts has a passer rating of 59.3, which is 3^approx-Worst in the league.

No touchdowns. No field goals. Zero points.

That’s what the Eagles have to show in their first five first quarters this year.

The Eagles became just the fourth NFL team in the last 15 years to go scoreless in the first quarter in their first five games.

This is the first time since 1934, the second year of their existence, that they have failed to score in the first quarter in each of their first five games.

Last year, the Eagles went scoreless in seven straight first quarters.

The last time they scored in the first 15 minutes of a game was with 36 seconds left against Arizona in Week 17 last year on a Hurts TD pass to Julio Jones.

This is bad.

“That’s what we’re trying to work on,” said AJ Brown, who missed three of those first quarters. “I don’t know if it’s necessarily something we can focus on – ‘We’ll start training quickly’ or something like that or whatever.

“But we just try to keep doing what we’re doing and just keep trying to get better. And like I said, in the (Browns) game, the first drive, if I can get things going quickly, I’ll get it going. I was a little rusty so I attended. And then the second trip, which I narrowly missed. So something like that happens. I take responsibility for my part.”

This is the first time since late 1994 – the end of Rich Kotite’s tenure as head coach – that the Eagles have gone seven straight games without a 1-pointer^st-Quarter point. And only the fourth time since 1956.

The last time they had a lengthy streak lasted eight games in the 1936 and 1937 seasons.

So if they don’t score in the first quarter against the Giants on Sunday, it would be the first time they’ve gone eight straight games without an 1^st-Quarter point in 87 years.

“We had some missed opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on,” Hurts said. “I think it’s not just about what’s going on with the players, but it’s also about getting the first first down. Once you get the first first down, you put yourself in a really good position, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Of those 77 plays the Eagles ran in the first quarter this year, 33-43 percent either lost yards or gained two or fewer yards. Only six managed 10 yards or more.

Lane Johnson suggested quicker adjustments with playcalling and more tempo could get the offense going sooner.

“Of course you can have a game plan, but a lot of things change,” Johnson said. “When you come to the game, they’re going to show you a look that you haven’t practiced. And that’s why I think the adjustments on the sideline are just as important, maybe more important, than the game plan that you have.

“So it’s definitely something we’re addressing. I think we can do some good things if we pick up the pace and get our offense moving quickly. So all in all, we’re going to push the limits and try to get off to a quick start this week. And yes, make it even more of a sense of urgency for us.”

The Eagles scored an above-average number of points after the first quarter.

After the first quarter, the Eagles are averaging 21.2 points per game. That makes them 6^Th-Highest point total in the entire NFL starting in the second quarter, behind the Commanders (25.2), Beares (23.0), Ravens (22.7), Bengals (22.2) and Bills (22.0).

But those first few quarters were a nightmare.

“If there was something magical, we would do it,” Nick Sirianni said. “We have to put the boys in a position to be successful. We have to be ready and the guys have to go out and execute. That will always be the case. And we just have to keep trying new formulas. It’s not necessarily the same formula against every team. It depends on the defense you play and the opponent you play against.

You just have to continue to try different formulas of things that have been successful in the past, things that we think can be successful for this team, and sprinkle different formulas in there. We know how important it is that we get on the board first and when they step to us, we immediately go down and score. So it keeps us busy.”

Will the Eagles ever score in the first quarter again? – NBC Sports Philadelphia

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