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…
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.
Watch The John Kincade Show on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.
The Philadelphia Eagles enter the NFC Wild Card Round with several starters in question. Jalen Hurts, Cam Jurgens, and A.J. Brown all suffered injuries in Week 18. DeVonta Smith sat out the brutal loss against the New York Giants in Week 18. Nick Sirianni is desperate for a playoff victory. He hopes to have a healthy lineup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Eagles Facing Adversity
The Eagles are reeling badly. They lost five of their final six games to finish the 2023 regular season. The fan base has no optimism heading into the playoffs just one month after the team sat at 10-1 in sole possession of the best record in the NFL.
Nobody can confidently say the Eagles have any momentum heading into the playoffs. They lost consecutive games to finish the regular season against opponents in the bottom tier of the NFL with nothing to play for. The Eagles struggled with the same weaknesses throughout the 2023 season, and their recent opponents have exposed their flaws brutally.
Philadelphia Eagles NFC Wild Card Round Starters
Darius Slay will likely return after missing the final four games of the regular season after arthroscopic knee surgery. Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks will still rotate into the defensive backfield after filling in for Slay the past four games. Sydney Brown is unavailable after a serious injury in Week 18.
DeVonta Smith is nursing an ankle injury suffered in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals in Week 17. D'Andre Swift also sat out the loss against the Giants. Both should also return against the Buccaneers.
Cam Jurgens suffered an eye injury against the Giants. His status is still in question. All eyes will turn to A.J. Brown. Assuming Jalen Hurts plays through a dislocated finger, Brown's status will be the most impactful is the most significant of any injury news.
Offense
Jalen Hurts
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesQuarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020
D'Andre Swift
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty ImagesRunning Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)
DeVonta Smith
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021
Julio Jones
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #80
University of Alabama
13th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)
Quez Watkins
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020
Dallas Goedert
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesTight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018
Jordan Mailata
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLeft Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018
Landon Dickerson
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLeft Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021
Jason Kelce
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesCenter, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011
Cam Jurgens
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesRight Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022
Lane Johnson
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesLeft Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013
Defense
Josh Sweat
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesDefensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018
Fletcher Cox
Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty ImagesDefensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012
Jordan Davis
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty ImagesDefensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022
Haason Reddick
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesEdge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)
Zach Cunningham
Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesLinebacker, #52
Vanderbilt University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (August 2023)
Shaquille Leonard
Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty ImagesLinebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)
Darius Slay
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesCornerback, #2
Mississippi State
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)
James Bradberry
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesCornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)
Avonte Maddox
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesCornerback, #29
University of Pittsburgh
Drafted in 4th Round (125th overall) in 2018
Kevin Byard
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesSafety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)
Reed Blankenship
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesSafety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)
