While the fall of a kingdom is usually precipitated by a chain reaction, there's sometimes one event that causes its downfall. Perhaps the Eagles' primetime collapse against the Drew Lock-led Seahawks on Monday night will ultimately be the game that completely derailed their chances of a Super Bowl return.
There wasn't one particular thing that led to Philadelphia's demise on Monday. Death by a thousand paper cuts was far more painful. Jason Kelce’s false start on a 3rd-and-short at the three-yard line, with the Eagles threatening to go up 14-0, played a role. Jalen Hurts' pair of late fourth-quarter interceptions played a role. Awful tackling and coverage during crunchtime played a role. Sadly, for the reigning NFC champions, these problems in the 20-17 loss weren't new.
The Eagles' high-powered offense, which averaged 28.1 points through their first 11 games, have managed to average just 16.3 points over their last three losses. No one who's tallying their point differential is really a mathematician, but it's roughly a touchdown plus a two-point conversion and field goal less. Against tougher competition in the NFC playoffs, this offense certainly won't cut it. It's challenging to diagnose why a team that looked ready to hit cruise control, en route to Super Bowl 58, lost all of its swagger once the December doldrums arrived.
Now, winless since the calendar turned to December, the Eagles' luck running out has appeared to be real slow and hurtful like a piñata beating. Perhaps it's better to be more lucky than good -- they won five of their first 10 contests by one score. Philadelphia could've easily dropped a handful of those 10 games, and this would've flipped the script on the season. Now, the glaring cracks in the team's foundation, patched up with duct tape, are impossible to conceal.
There's still time for the Eagles to turn things around, of course. Over the next three weeks, they'll face the mediocre Giants twice and the meager Cardinals once. Both of these teams are positioned to select in the top-five of the 2024 draft in April. The Cowboys also seem unlikely to run the table in the NFC East, with matchups against the Dolphins and Lions before finishing their campaign at the Commanders. So, the Eagles' path to winning the division is very much alive. But then what?
The goal all along was to surpass last season's benchmark, not unravel when the games mattered most. Nobody in Philadelphia will be satisfied with a run short of Super Bowl 58 this winter. Having reached the NFC playoffs in six of their last seven seasons, with two Super Bowl appearances in this span, the bar is set extremely high for the Eagles. It might be too early to consider the major changes that could come from a continued letdown, but Sean Desai's demotion as defensive coordinator -- which came with a promotion for Matt Patricia -- should put everyone in South Philadelphia on notice.
Turning to Patricia seemed like a desperation move, but change was needed. It's only challenging to pinpoint how changes will make a serious impact. The Eagles' struggles in the secondary are well documented, with Darius Slay and James Bradberry appearing to be well over the hill, and the pass defense has been disastrous. How much of this falls on general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni remains up for debate.
Regardless, star quarterback Jalen Hurts is among those who deserve blame. His 2023 regression almost mirrors backward steps taken by his predecessor, Carson Wentz. For the first time in his football career, Hurts has a double-digit interception total (12). Getting him back on track seems like a tall order, given the way this season has transpired. Play-calling from newly-promoted Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson has been uninspiring at times, although he deserves credit for getting D'Andre Swift and the running game going.
Like a lousy first date, where neither side clicks with one another, something just feels off with the Eagles. Pinpointing what's wrong is the challenge that could linger for the remainder of the regular season and into the postseason. Maybe the Eagles should've brought in more experienced coordinators after their Super Bowl 57 loss to the Chiefs last February. But, then again, nobody batted an eye at the promotions of two up-and-comers.
Theoretically, a greater emphasis should’ve been placed on their secondary. But that's why Roseman traded up for Georgia product Kelee Ringo. Nothing Roseman carried out along the way was head-scratching, but the collective impact of a number of questionable decisions is now being felt.
The tension and angst from Monday's loss were so strong, the pilots on the Eagles' cross-country flight back home probably felt it, too. While they don't have any solutions to the current issues at hand, it's clear the deeply-rooted problems may not have a quick fix. This could threaten what's been a golden era of Eagles football.