The Eagles Can’t Break Out the Underdog Masks
The one thing that I did not expect to hear come out of the Eagles locker room, especially from a leader like Brandon Graham, was the tired old talking point of “everybody is doubting us.” The Eagles are not even the underdog against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’s important to note that Graham has been singing a tune of “this team will bounce back” for weeks now. I’m sure that was to try and calm the waters and support locker room morale. The one thing I can’t accept is anyone in that organization trying to now spin their fan base as doubters who are driving them by their disbelief. There are so many reasons why this is a problem THEY created for themselves.
Sirianni refused to take the wheel.
The Eagles hired Nick Sirianni as an offensive innovator. He has failed to deliver on that resume line. Seven games into his head coaching career, he told the fan base he wasn’t good at play-calling before turning things over to Shane Steichen.
Now with his team careening off the cliff, he refused to take on play-calling duties. That tells me that you either were afraid to show you still stink at it or you were refusing to grasp that Brian Johnson was over his skis. Either way, it’s unacceptable.
Amateur-Hour Coordinator Performance
Brian Johnson and his offensive play design was just featured on ESPN by Dan Orlovsky this week as the most simplistic to defend in the NFL. One year they had NFL defenses on their heels and cruised to a Super Bowl berth. The next year, more people are mocking the approach.
Don’t get me started on the collective work of Sean Desai and Matt Patricia. The defensive performance has back slid and failed to improve. A house cleaning is in order.
No veteran leadership has been apparent.
Where are the storied veteran personalities in this locker room like Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, and Lane Johnson? Why have they not managed to help stem the tide of failure? Have they checked out on the leadership? I’m open to any suggestion because the silence has been staggering. It seems the fan base is more angry than the players.
Defense Wins Championships?
Being a bottom-three NFL defense is truly crazy. There is too much talent on this squad to ever be hanging out at the bottom of the points per game allowed standings. It indicates that the approach has been terrible and that the players have failed to rise above the challenge to execute the basics with competency.
The Biggest Collapse in NFL History?
No team has ever had a 10-1 record and ended with just 11 wins in the 17-game era. Feel free to insert your own expletives here.
My Verdict
Please spare me any underdog chatter about the Eagles. You can’t walk around naked and complain that others don’t like the view. There are so many reasons to be disgusted as a fan. There is no time for underdog masks and fake narratives trying to cover the stench!
Nick Sirianni's message seems to be falling flat, says @JeffKerrCBS.
— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) January 8, 2024
“It just seems that Nick Sirianni is sending out the same message every week. I rolled my eyes when I heard that, so what are the players doing when they continuously hear it.”
(@975JKShow)
📸Elsa/Getty Image pic.twitter.com/EKPxyLGbxi
Watch The John Kincade Show live on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.
Philadelphia Eagles Projected Starters: NFC Wild Card Round
Jalen Hurts
Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020D'Andre Swift
Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)DeVonta Smith
Wide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021Julio Jones
Wide Receiver, #80
University of Alabama
13th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)Quez Watkins
Wide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020Dallas Goedert
Tight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018Jordan Mailata
Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018Landon Dickerson
Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021Jason Kelce
Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011Cam Jurgens
Right Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022Lane Johnson
Left Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013Josh Sweat
Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018Fletcher Cox
Defensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012Jordan Davis
Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022Haason Reddick
Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)Zach Cunningham
Linebacker, #52
Vanderbilt University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (August 2023)Shaquille Leonard
Linebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)Darius Slay
Cornerback, #2
Mississippi State
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)James Bradberry
Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)Avonte Maddox
Cornerback, #29
University of Pittsburgh
Drafted in 4th Round (125th overall) in 2018Kevin Byard
Safety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)Reed Blankenship
Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)
