TAMPA, Fla. — If the Philadelphia Eagles had a chance to watch their fellow NFC East postseason qualifier, they saw the warning.
It’s a warning the Eagles, truth be told, received in Week 13. They received it also in Weeks 14 and 15 and again in Weeks 17 and 18.
Because despite the Eagles’ early hold on the division, despite their 10-1 season start and despite even the Super Bowl they nearly won 11 months ago, the Eagles began to crumble as the playoffs neared.
And they need look no further than the Dallas Cowboys’ Sunday collapse to the Green Bay Packers to see what might happen if they complete the tumble in a Monday night contest at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A coaching controversy? Free agent Bill Belichick is already being linked to the Cowboys amid questions over Mike McCarthy’s fitness to break Dallas’ going-on-29-year NFC championship and Super Bowl drought.
A quarterback controversy? After his two interceptions included a pick 6, Dak Prescott told reporters that if McCarthy’s job was in question, the question should extend to his.
Pit that against recent conversation about Prescott, who was named second-team All-Pro this season (meaning he was voted the second-best quarterback in the league by a 50-member panel) and considered a legitimate candidate for the new richest quarterback.
The Eagles don’t have to worry about paying Dak Prescott a visit this postseason. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The postseason collapse will also prompt questions about Micah Parsons’ extension, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s best opportunity in the league and even the Cowboys’ culture that may or may not best position what seems to be a near-perennially talented group of players who fall short even when relatively healthy.
Exhale.
Now, let’s return to the Eagles.
The Eagles’ collapse has already begun. It’s a steeper drop from the heights Philadelphia reached last season and the expectations against which it has since fallen short.
So as the Eagles and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-collapse-should-serve-as-warning-to-reeling-eagles-about-consequences-of-a-playoff-exit-062005856.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-01-15 06:20:05
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