Once we final left the Eagles, they have been staggering into their bye week after a 33-16 loss to the Buccaneers two Sundays in the past.
Maybe the very best factor to occur to them was the Phillies dropping their playoff sequence to the Mets, taking some consideration and warmth off embattled Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and his group.
One other good factor for the 2-2 Eagles is that they play the dysfunctional 1-4 Browns on Sunday at Lincoln Monetary Subject, the place their protection ought to be capable to feast on Cleveland’s wildly-overpaid and bumbling quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The factor is, although: Ought to the Eagles fail to win Sunday in opposition to such a weak opponent — particularly after per week off and three key gamers returning to the lineup — it may spell doom for Sirianni.
So, that provides a definite ingredient of strain for the Eagles. They completely, positively, can’t lose this recreation or there could also be panic within the streets of South Philly. If the Eagles are unable to proper themselves on this traditional “get proper’’ recreation, you can’t rule out vital adjustments.
Their malaise this season dates again to final season, when a 10-1 begin was soured by dropping 5 of their last six regular-season video games earlier than a wild-card playoff thumping by the Buccaneers.
So, since that blistering 2023 begin, the Eagles are 3-8.
Final week on “The Pat McAfee Present,’’ even former Patriots coach Invoice Belichick weighed in critically on the Eagles’ points.
“Look, they’ve misplaced [eight] of their final [11] video games, so, if you sit there and say, ‘Properly, they’re probably the greatest groups within the league,’ I don’t know,’’ Belichick mentioned. “They do have loads of good gamers and have group. I’m not saying they’re not group, I’m simply saying they haven’t carried out very properly these days.”
The Browns are maybe ultimately a short lived antidote for what ails the Eagles. Cleveland ranks thirtieth yardage gained and scoring offense, with a paltry 15.8 15.8 factors per recreation.
The Eagles determine to be stronger on offense with receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith coming back from accidents in addition to Professional Bowl guard Lane Johnson.
Nonetheless, Sirianni appears on shaky floor. After final season, he was pressured into bringing in two new coordinators — Kellen Moore on offense and Vic Fangio on protection. Each are potential replacements for Sirianni ought to possession determine it’s had sufficient. Fangio has been a head coach and Moore has been a “scorching’’ candidate in recent times.
All of it appears harsh for a coach who, simply 19 months in the past, led his group to the Tremendous Bowl.
His quarterback Jalen Hurts, as soon as thought-about an MVP candidate, has been pedestrian, throwing simply 4 touchdowns to go together with 4 interceptions. A lot of that actually has to do with lacking his high two receivers for intervals of time.
However nonetheless …
Hurts, who signed a $255 million extension earlier than final season, has dedicated at the least one turnover in 9 consecutive video games and has seven this season (4 INTs and three misplaced fumbles).
The Eagles have but to attain within the first quarter this season, outscored 23-0. They trailed the Buccaneers 24-0 halfway via the second quarter and had been outgained 254-0 over the stretch.
Former Giants operating again Saquon Barkley, signed within the offseason, has carried out properly — 435 dashing yards and 4 TDs in 4 video games. Bryce Huff, the sting rusher signed away from the Jets, although, has been a flop, nonetheless searching for his first sack.
Maybe a saving grace for Sirianni’s group is the schedule. The primary 4 groups they play popping out of the bye — the Browns, Giants, Bengals and Jaguars — are a mixed 5-15.
Maybe one other saving grace is Hurts saying this week that he had “nice moments” with Sirianni throughout bye-week conferences.
“We’re the 2 leaders of the group,” Hurts mentioned. “I’m blissful and lucky that we have been capable of come collectively in concord and have the identical objective in thoughts, making an attempt to get this factor proper. I obtained a ton of confidence in him, a ton of confidence in what he brings and all the pieces he’s been capable of accomplish.
“Everyone goes via totally different moments, everyone experiences adversity, however we’ve skilled totally different ranges of adversity collectively. We’re excited for what’s to come back.”
