Former Eagles concerned about the passing game

The Eagles (11-2) managed to clinch a playoff spot for the fourth straight year on Sunday after their 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The Eagles entered the game with a nine-game winning streak and as 12-point favorites over the three-win Panthers. The game featured the No. 1 rushing offense behind a red-hot Saquon Barkley against one of the NFL’s worst run defenses. Yet Eagles fans were still left holding their breath as Carolina had a chance to steal a win at the end.

Former Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner expressed his concerns after the game on the betPARX postgame show.

“The Eagles won, and normally you wanna be positive when they win,” Joyner said. “I don’t know whether I should say they were due for a game like this as well as they’ve dominated and played the last few weeks. This was just bad football across the board, I think, coaching-wise and playing-wise.

“They didn’t run Saquon Barkley enough in the first half, in my opinion. The last run defense in the National Football League and you only run your top running back nine times in the first half? Jalen [Hurts] was very indecisive in this game throwing the football. I thought that hurt them early.”

Hurts completed 14 of 21 passes for just 108 yards. Though he was inconsistent, Hurts still managed to finish with two passing touchdowns and no turnovers. But that didn’t stop some from voicing their concern, including former Eagles defensive end Chris Long, who reacted to Hurts' performance on YouTube’s Green Light with Chris Long.

“Jalen’s not a bad quarterback but today he was being a bad quarterback,” Long said. “I mean, that was not good. That was not good. I like being fair to Jalen because I think he’s done a hell of a lot. I mean he’s won a lot of games. And I mean obviously, when a guy plays the way he plays that Super Bowl year, a lot of grace should be given. But it’s been up and down since that Super Bowl. This was one of his worst games. I don’t know how else to put it.”

» READ MORE: Do the Eagles have a passing problem? A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith voice their frustration despite Eagles win.

Despite the Birds’ struggles, they did win. And there was at least one shining light in the game: Barkley. The Eagles running back set a new single-season franchise rushing record, eclipsing LeSean McCoy’s previous record set in 2013 (1,607 yards). Barkley’s 124 yards on 20 carries, his fourth straight game over 100 yards, has him at 1,623 rushing yards on the season. He remains on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984.

As fans chanted “MVP” at Lincoln Financial Field, he was getting more praise from former Eagles running back McCoy on social media.

“Listen, as I watch the game I’m going to give a super special shout-out to my boy Saquon Barkley, also to the offensive line, for breaking my single-season Eagles franchise record of rushing,” McCoy said. “Twenty-six, a lot of love coming from 25. Now, go get that other record 2,100 yards for Eric Dickerson. Fly Eagles Fly. I see y’all in New Orleans. Let’s get it.”

Barkley responded to McCoy with, “Love brudda.”

Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson has witnessed greatness twice, playing with both Barkley and McCoy. Johnson was a rookie when McCoy set the team rushing record. Now, 11 years later, Johnson helped Barkley rewrite the Eagles’ record book.

Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell had heads turning before the game even started. Mitchell wore a sweatshirt embroidered with the nickname “Quinyonamo Bay,” which had been taking off on social media and beyond.

Fans and former players, including Long and Jason Kelce, are already lining up for their very own “Quinyonamo Bay” hoodies.

Cooper DeJean made his own comment about Mitchell’s new hoodie. “R.O.T.Y.” he wrote on social media, suggesting his fellow rookie cornerback should be the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.