The Philadelphia Eagles are good.

The only undefeated team remaining in the NFL, the Eagles showed something in Sunday’s 26-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles, who created some breathing room from Dallas in the NFC East standings, scored three TDs against a solid defense that has not allowed more than 19 points all year.

Philly’s defense again played great, which is not a surprise. For the fifth straight week, the Eagles held their opponent to 17 or less points. Also, those three interceptions against Cooper Rush, a quarterback who entered the game without a pick this season, was great— backup or not. 

There should be nothing to complain about, right? 

An undefeated team that is now two games ahead of the Cowboys (with a one-game advantage over them), one above the Giants and Vikings (with the tiebreaker) and three above the Packers, Rams and Buccaneers. 

It all seems fine. But if the Eagles want to be Super Bowl contenders, there is something that needs be addressed— and soon.

The Eagles cannot score in the second half.

This season, the Eagles have scored 36 points in the last 30 minutes, or an average of just six points. In the last five, they have scored 22 (two games they scored zero), an average of 4.4 points. 

All of their points are coming in the first half, or more specifically the second quarter. The Eagles scored 115 second-quarter points. The team has 152 points this season.

Luckily, the Eagles are building larger leads early but they cannot go the entire season holding off opponents in the second half from coming back. What if the Eagles weren’t leading by 17 at halftime Sunday? Dallas might have been able to pull off a comeback. 

Just look back at the first game of the season. The Eagles had a 31-14 lead over the Lions, but won 38-35. On Sunday , if the Eagles played the way they did in the first half when they led 20-3, the game might have been a blowout. 

Dallas has a good defense, but if the second-half woes were just Sunday then it would be different. Sure, it was not easy when Lane Johnson left the game. That was a massive loss, and created a mismatch that star Micah Parsons took advantage of, and the pass rush strengthened. 

Jalen Hurts still made great reads, and his touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith was perfect. That play design was just as perfect. When it comes down to it, the Eagles are scoring, and that is great.

But the Eagles not adding to their leads in the second half is a weekly occurrence, and it cannot continue to happen. 

Not if Philly wants to be serious Super Bowl contenders. Yes, teams make adjustments at halftime. But that cannot be an excuse. The Eagles should also make adjustments. 

This bye week is important.

Not only for Johnson can get healthy and clear the NFL’s concussion protocol and C.J. Gardner-Johnson can heal up his hand, but to reset and figure out how to score and add to their leads in the second half.

Philly will play the Steelers, Texans and Commanders, respectively, after the bye week. The Eagles have a legitimate chance to remain undefeated and go 9-0. 

The Eagles are a good team.

Fix the second-half performance, and they could be dominant.

Credit: Lori Nichols, NJ.com