Drew Brees calls Eagles' offense 'boring' despite 3-0 start as tush-push debate persists
Saints legend questions Philadelphia's offensive style while the team rides a fast start and faces ongoing scrutiny over its short-yardage push and game plans
Drew Brees has taken aim at the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, labeling it the most boring in the NFL even as the team opened the season 3-0. The Hall of Fame quarterback made the remark Monday on ESPN’s First Take, saying he respects what Philadelphia is doing by winning games but cannot stand the style. “I respect Philly, they are winning games, they’re finding ways to win games. I can’t stand to watch that offense. It’s the most boring offense,” Brees said, adding that he left Jalen Hurts out of his short list of current top quarterbacks in the league and offering: “I’m sorry.”
The critique arrives as the Eagles remain at the center of a broader conversation about their offense, including questions surrounding the use of the tush push and the officiating around it. On the field, Philadelphia has posted a complicated profile through the early weeks of the 2025 season: a unit that ranks 27th in yards gained but 8th in points scored, a discrepancy that has fueled debate about whether the team is maximizing its scoring output despite its run-heavy tendencies. Philadelphia’s three victories to start the season came in dramatic fashion, with Week 3 results underscoring the team’s ability to win in multiple ways even when its offense looks less explosive than its defense or special teams.
The discussion around the offense has not only focused on scheme but also on personnel and execution. After a win over the Dallas Cowboys, 24-20, Philadelphia’s rhythm remained a topic of conversation as fans and analysts parsed how the unit can maintain consistency while the team pushes for more explosive plays. The team also faced a high-profile test in the so-called Super Bowl LIX rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, where a late-in-zone moment—a Travis Kelce pass that failed to connect—influenced the outcome and kept the Chiefs close before Philadelphia held on. The narrative around the offense is shaped as much by those close calls as by the 27th-ranked yards figure, with coaches and players emphasizing that the team has shown the ability to win with different approaches.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, asked about the offense’s ebb and flow, signaled that the team’s identity remains rooted in a capacity to respond when pressure rises. “I think in the second half when pressure was as high as it was, we kind of just let it loose and went out there and played, and that’s the brand of football we played for a long time,” Hurts said. He added that the goal is to execute more consistently rather than complicate what has already worked in crunch time. A wide receiver in another part of the lineup echoed the sentiment, urging teammates to trust their natural speed and aggression.
A.J. Brown reinforced the message with blunt resolve. “Let your killers do their thing: play fast and play aggressive,” Brown said, underscoring a competitive mindset that centers on quick, decisive plays rather than prolonged, methodical drives. The remarks align with a team that has shown it can win in multiple fashions, including strong performances in the red zone and timely stops on defense.
The Eagles’ latest chapter came in a game against the Los Angeles Rams, where Philadelphia faced a late challenge that tested its ability to close out games. The Rams had a chance to win, but Philadelphia benefited from a blocked field goal and a Jordan Davis return for a touchdown, securing a 33-26 victory that highlighted the fragile margins within a burgeoning season. The loss or win margins have not masked the underlying message from players and observers that the offense, even when productive in points, has room to improve in yardage and tempo.
As the season unfolds, the tension between Brees’s critique and Philadelphia’s results will continue to fuel discussions about offensive philosophy, short-yardage attempts, and how a team can stay efficient with a balanced approach. The tush push—the direct snap run designed for short-yardage situations—has been a focal point in league debates about safety, rules, and strategy, and it figures into conversations about how teams can sustain success without inviting penalties or controversy.
Philadelphia is set to face a Week 4 opponent, continuing a stretch of early-season tests that will gauge whether the team’s win totals can outpace the growth of its offensive production. The Eagles’ coaches have stressed improvement in execution, while players have stressed confidence in their ability to adapt and win with whatever game plan is called for on Sundays.
Drew Brees’s comments on First Take come at a time when former players and analysts routinely weigh in on how teams win games—whether through high-volume passing, grinding drives, or a blend of both. The exchange reflects a larger football conversation about how offenses evolve in a league where pace, efficiency, and situational play-calling determine success as much as raw yardage totals.
This report was compiled from game-day notes and postgame interviews and reflects the ongoing coverage of NFL sports across outlets. The conversation about Philadelphia’s approach is likely to continue as the season progresses and teams adjust to the Eagles’ personnel and strategic philosophies.
