How the Eagles Went From Super Bowl Favorites to Playoff Upset in 6 Weeks
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
The 10-1 Eagles entered a highly anticipated Week 11 clash against the 8-3 49ers in what many considered a showdown between the NFL’s top two teams. Philadelphia was +400 to win the Super Bowl at the time, and it looked like that game was a precursor to an eventual NFC Championship Game rematch.
Little did we know Philadelphia’s 42-19 loss to San Francisco was the beginning of a monster collapse that now has many questioning head coach Nick Sirianni’s future with the franchise.
Philadelphia lost five of its last six regular season games, falling from heavy favorites to win the NFC East to the 5-seed. The Eagles faced as much pressure as any team heading into the playoffs, and they fell under the weight of it in a 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers on Monday. Jalen Hurts was an MVP candidate for most of the year, but was thoroughly outplayed by Baker Mayfield, whose career was on life support heading into the season.
Mayfield carved up a maligned Eagles defense, completing 22-of-36 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns. Philadelphia's defense was a disaster all year, causing Sirianni to strip defensive coordinator Sean Desai from play-calling duties in favor of senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia with four weeks left in the year. It didn’t make a lick of difference, though. The Eagles allowed 26.8 PPG with Patricia calling the shots, and barely put up a fight in their loss to the Buccaneers.
Now, just like their rivals in Dallas, all eyes are on what Philadelphia's ownership will do following a first-round flameout.
It was unfathomable to think heading into that game against the 49ers that Sirianni would end the season on the hot seat. He led the Eagles to three straight playoffs since arriving in Philadelphia, including a Super Bowl appearance a year ago. However, a collapse like this puts a bullseye on everyone.
Reports of discord in the locker room and players questioning the coaching staff only pours fuel on the fire that the Eagles might jettison Sirianni. Even if they don’t, it’d be shocking if there weren't major shakeups on Sirianni’s staff in what will undoubtedly be a rocky offseason in the City of Brotherly Love.
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