What is ailing the Eagles? First win in four weeks doesn’t erase uneasiness evident in locker room

PHILADELPHIA — As the Christmas music was playing in the Philadelphia Eagles locker room, the feeling was far from joyous. Understandably on Christmas, players wanted to bolt and see their families. For the ones who stuck around, it was a mixed bag of somber and relief. 

The Eagles won a football game for the first time since Nov. 26, beating the Giants 33-25. This is a football team that snapped a three-game losing streak, yet is 11-4 and tied for the best record in the NFC. The Eagles lead the NFC East by a game and are a win and Dallas Cowboys loss away from wrapping up a division title.

So why the grave tone? The Eagles won, but were far from perfect. Here are some ugly examples:

Olamide Zaccheaus and Boston Scott ran into each other on a kickoff return that led to a fumble.Dallas Goedert slipped, which led to an interception returned for a touchdown.Jalen Hurts didn’t run out of bounds near the end of the first half.Nick Sirianni let 20 seconds run off the clock at the end of the same half before calling a timeout.Jalen Carter jogged off the field, which led to an offsides penalty on fourth down, giving the outmatched New York Giants a first down and extending what once was a dormant drive. 

Those were just the on-field shenanigans. 

“We’re not playing good football right now,” said wide receiver DeVonta Smith. “I’m not satisfied. Yeah, we got 11 wins. I’m not happy. It (the offense) needs to be better for what I want to do, what everybody else in here wants to do, what we want to be.

“We’re nowhere near that so, no, I’m not happy.”

Off the field, cameras from the television broadcast caught Sirianni in a heated exchange with defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Jeremiah Washburn after Sirianni was seen shouting at Haason Reddick. Smith intervened with Sirianni having a few words for him as well.

“I get animated a lot,” Sirianni said. “There are things that when mistakes…


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Author : Jeff Kerr

Publish date : 2023-12-26 20:21:14

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