Philadelphia Eagles Staring At Obvious Game Plan Against Buccaneers
Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles have redundantly called for a focus on the running game, seemingly for generations. According to Andrew DiCecco, they might actually get their wish when the Eagles face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Eagles Offense
A.J. Brown will miss the Monday Night Football matchup with a knee injury. Jalen Hurts will have to battle a finger injury on his throwing hand. DiCecco spoke on The John Kincade Show about the circumstances suggesting the need for a simplified game plan.
“Not having someone like A.J. and having a banged up quarterback forces you to be simplistic in your approach and lean on the foundation that this team is built on, the offensive line and running the football. You have two good running backs. You’d think it’s going to be a big D’Andre Swift night but also a big Kenny Gainwell night… I think that’s what you’re going to see.” -Andrew DiCecco
Nick Sirianni, Brian Johnson, and the offensive staff have struggled to maximize the talent of a loaded unit this season. They’ve become predictable for opposing defenses.
“That’s been the most perplexing thing for me this season… I think sometimes when you have so many different weapons and so many different things that you would like to execute offensively, you accomplish nothing. When you have too many goals, you don’t accomplish any of them.” -DiCecco
Nick Sirianni Adjusts in 2021
Fans tediously call for the Eagles to run the ball without proper consideration to the modern game. Reliance on the running game isn’t the best recipe for long-term success in the NFL. However, a key indicator in Sirianni’s past suggest the strategy could be a short-term solution.
The 2021 Eagles limped out of the gates to a 2-5 start. Sirianni recognized that his team wasn’t in position to contend for a Super Bowl. He instead chose to maximize the strengths of his roster by pivoting to a focus on the running game. They stormed through the NFL rankings and finished with the league’s top rushing offense. The adjustment helped them win seven of their next nine games and clinch a playoff berth.
The Eagles finished 9-8, an admirable finish that exceeded low expectations, but reliance on the running game wasn’t a long-term strategy for success. The winning stretch also had a lot to do with a weak schedule. The Eagles demonstrated their understanding of that reality when they prioritized improvement in the passing game entering the 2022 season.
The circumstamces entering the game in Tampa Bay look similar. A struggling team is facing poor competition. Most of the same offensive linemen will play on Monday. The Eagles have better personnel with D’Andre Swift in the backfield instead of Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard.
The transition to a rushing offense successfully improved a struggling team facing poor competition once. It probably won’t get the Eagles a Lombardi Trophy. However, it might get them a victory in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Eagles Defense
Matt Patricia took over as the primary decision-maker for the Philadelphia defense in Week 15. He’s tried to force adjustments to a defensive system that was already causing communication issues, especially in the secondary.
The defense performed horrendously against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, and they looked completely unprepared to face the New York Giants in Week 18. The Eagles defense doesn’t boast the same level of talent as their offense. However, their recent performances don’t indicate the level of talent Patricia is working with.
The transition to a simplified game plan could similarly benefit the defense. Haason Reddick doesn’t need to shoulder new responsibilities in an adjusted scheme by dropping into coverage. The linebackers and safeties don’t need to adjust to completely different calls than the ones they used on the defensive line.
Philadelphia’s best players need to utilize their strengths with a simplified approach against a Tampa Bay team with inferior talent.
Bob Cooney has emphasized the “K.I.S.S.” method in recent weeks. Keep it simple, stupid. Something so simple just might work.
"The Eagles are going to pullout a win here. It's not going to be pretty. They have more talent." -@AndrewDiCecco pic.twitter.com/dPd3HCSw2E
— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) January 15, 2024