Locally, In the backwash of the Eagles’ 33-16 loss to Tampa Bay last week, the airwaves and wifi streams are not pleasant in Philadelphia. Nationally, even Bill Belichick, perhaps dealing with Super Bowl LII PTSD, unloaded on the Eagles during the Pat McAfee Show Monday.
The facts are these: The Eagles (2-2) have lost eight of their last 11 games, including postseason. Last week against the Buccaneers, they were down 24-0 less than 23 minutes into the game, forcing them to call 36 passing plays. It was a bad day, and it came without A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Lane Johnson.
Like dutiful airline passengers, some in the Philadelphia media appear to be securing their own oxygen masks before helping Eagles fans. Said another way, most Philadelphia media are not in full-on panic mode just yet.
Keep in mind that only nine days ago, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert and Jalen Carter led the Eagles to an impressive win against what looked like the NFL’s best team, New Orleans. Less than a year ago, this team was 10-1, and only 19 months ago, the Eagles were in a dogfight with the Chiefs for a Super Bowl crown.
Ah, but patience is a filthy, four-letter word in Philadelphia. Fans are already demanding a new flight plan.
Per Philly’s irreverent sports blog, Crossing Broad, comes this gem, a peak inside the Philadelphia fanbase, courtesy of DJ GabeReal.
“Yeah, first time, long time. How ya doin’? Listen, I’ve been sayin’ it … no, I’m not on speaker, Jon; it’s Bluetooth. Hang on, let me roll up the window … Jon, I’ve been telling you since Day 1, this team stinks and Jalen Hurts is not the guy. OK? It’s Kenny Pickett time. And I don’t wanna hear it. I don’t wanna hear excuses. ‘He doesn’t have any weapons, and A.J. Brown’s hurt, and DeVonta’s hurt, and Lane Johnson’s hurt’ …
“Listen, Jon, I was in this town when the weapons were James Trash, FredEx and Todd Pinkston, Jon. I don’t wanna hear the excuses. Sam Darnolt ain’t makin’ excuses out there in Minnesota, OK? He’s 4-0. I don’t hear any excuses from Darnolt. But our guy’s mopin’ around, makin’ excuses.
“Listen, Jalen Hurts has gotta go. No-play Slay’s gotta go. Listen, they all gotta go. It’s Burlington Coat Factory, everything must go. The coach, Sirianni … listen, I’d rather ask Siri what to do on fourth down than ask Sirianni. This team is a disgrace, Jon.”
The Eagles – and their fans – are on a bye week before resuming their schedule Oct. 13 back at home against Cleveland (1-3).