After a crushing defeat, Sirianni refuses to blink as he publicly backs Eagles OC Kevin Patullo, leaving fans divided.QQ
The Philadelphia Eagles fans are not happy the day after Thanksgiving, and one man is receiving the brunt of the criticism: offensive playcaller Kevin Patullo.
Patullo is in his first year as the team’s head offensive coordinator, following Kellen Moore’s departure to become the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. And he hasn’t won many fans inside or outside Eagles headquarters, from the drama surrounding A.J. Brown to the team’s anemic attack. Saquon Barkley, coming off one of the greatest single-seasons by a running back ever, has gone from MVP candidate to afterthought in Patullo’s offense.
Things got worse on Friday in the loss to the surging Chicago Bears. A second-straight defeat, the Eagles’ offense sputtered and eventually flopped, losing by nine to the Bears at home.
After the game, cries for Patullo’s firing rang out on social media, as the reigning champions are now looking up at not only the Los Angeles Rams but also the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. More importantly, the Dallas Cowboys, who’ve revived themselves with a win over the Eagles and then a Thanksgiving victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, are in the rearview mirror of the NFC East.
Head coach Nick Sirianni isn’t flinching, though.
When prompted in the post-game press conference on changes the team might need to get the train back on the rails, Siranni stuck up for his primary playcaller. He reaffirmed that there would be no changers and that while they would reevaluate everything, it would be his job to help the team around him raise the ship instead of throwing a singular person overboard.
“This is the greatest team sport there is,” he said. “And it is never about one person.”
Although the Eagles’ offense has been the primary concern throughout the season, the team’s defense also disappointed on Black Friday. Philadelphia won a title last year through running the ball and playing hard-nosed defense, and that was the same formula Chicago used to beat them. The tandem of Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift combined for 255 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns.
The Eagles will now turn west for their next game, flying to Los Angeles next Sunday to play Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers.
