Getting Ugly? Philadelphia Eagles Seeking Answers After Dallas Cowboys Loss
PHILADELPHIA - It’s getting ugly in Philly.
A fan clad head to toe in Philadelphia Eagles gear has already shown up outside the team’s training facility with a “Fire Sean Desai” sign and a pair of trash cans labeled “No Play Slay” on one and “Bradberry” on another.
Left tackle Jordan Mailata went on the team’s flagship station, 94WIP, and said a fan yelled out to him, “You need to stop with the damn Christmas Carols and learn to pass block.”
JAKIB Media talker and former Eagles linebacker from long ago, Seth Joyner, trashed the defense and the coaches on that side of the ball.
Ugly.
Of course, the Eagles’ play the past two weeks has also been ugly, from offense to defense…ugly.
Special teams, though, have done well. Imagine that. Last year’s problem is this year’s success story.
Forget that and the defense for now, and let’s look at the offense. Specifically, its two superstar receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, both of whom not only fumbled once each but also dropped a pass, in Sunday’s 33-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles lost three fumbles in the game, with the other coming from quarterback Jalen Hurts. All three of them came in Dallas territory and potentially cost the Eagles at least nine points if not more.
DeVonta Smith ponders the Philadelphia Eagles' second blowout loss in a row.
Tim Heitman/USA Today
Smith dropped a throw in the end zone then, later, fumbled as he crossed into the red zone after a 30-yard catch-and-run.
Asked about the drop, Smith said, “I’m going to avoid that question. I don’t necessarily have an answer for you.”
Warning: there are several comments from Smith and Brown where they don’t necessarily have answers for some of what happened in various situations that have cropped up in the last two games.
Such as the fourth-and-eight throw where the Cowboys brought an all-out blitz, forcing Jalen Hurts to throw off his back foot to Smith, who managed all of one yard. The play came late in the third quarter and with the Eagles still within hailing distance of the Cowboys, trailing 27-13.
Asked about the play, Smith, said, “Um, I mean, they sent an all-out blitz. I can’t answer that question for you.”
As for the slow starts that have seen the Eagles trail at halftime in each of their last six games, Smith was just as perplexed.
“I have no clue,” he said. “I don’t know. We just go out there and we’re not executing how we’re supposed to.”
Brown, who dropped a pass that would've set up the Eagles near the Dallas 5-yard line, had a bit more insight into his fumble and those of Smith and Hurts.
“I think we are trying to make plays, man, you know?” said Brown. “Of course, we have to hold onto the ball. But we are trying to make plays. Holding onto the ball, of course, we want to hold onto the ball, but that’s the least of our worries. That’s just me being honest.”
That’s more than a bit concerning when fumbling three times is the least of the team’s worries.
Brown said, "It’s time to go back to the drawing board,” but admitted that he isn’t sure what is plaguing an offense that has managed two touchdowns in their last two games.
“I really don’t know right now,” he said.
Brown said basically the same thing about the team’s recent inefficiency on third down.
“I can’t answer that right now,” he said. “I don’t know.”
Whatever the answers, the Eagles need to find them quickly, otherwise, it could get even uglier despite the holiday season.
“We play Seattle last week, that’s all we need to worry about,” said Brown. “All that other (bleep) it doesn’t even matter.”
