The Philadelphia Eagles‘ 2023 season started as many NFL followers anticipated — however few would have anticipated that it’d finish with head coach Nick Siranni dropping his job.
The Eagles‘ stunning December droop may price Sirianni extra than simply stressed nights if Philadelphia‘s season involves an finish within the wild-card spherical on Monday night time. Sirianni’s contract runs via 2025, however dropping six of the ultimate seven video games this season may persuade a company as demanding as this one {that a} change is required.
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Philly’s gorgeous collapse beneath Sirianni
It would sound ridiculous to fireplace Sirianni lower than a 12 months after he led the Eagles to the precipice of a Tremendous Bowl win and a 10-1 file to start the 2023 season. However cracks had been beginning to open up whilst Philadelphia positioned itself to be the highest seed within the NFC once more.
Eight of Philly‘s first 11 video games this season had been determined by a landing or much less — the Eagles went 7-1 in these one-score video games. After surrendering a mixed 75 factors to the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, Sirianni determined to switch defensive playcaller Sean Desai with assistant Matt Patricia — an uncommon transfer for a crew that was nonetheless 10-3 and well-placed to win a second consecutive NFC East title.
The swap did not assist. Philly misplaced three shut video games in a row — together with an embarrassing defeat to the lowly Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Monetary Subject — earlier than its fall from grace was full following a 27-10 blowout loss to the New York Giants in Week 18. The Eagles have seemed like a drained crew that has misplaced its swagger on the most important time of the season — and it is simple for a company guilty the top coach when these two issues coincide.
If the Eagles had been to go forward and fireplace Sirianni, the ensuing opening can be among the many most tasty within the league — and the crew’s formidable possession may make a push for former Coach of the Yr Mike Vrabel, who was fired by the Tennessee Titans this week.
Eagles must go on the highway
Making issues much more troublesome for the Eagles is the truth that they will be unable to rely on the ferocity of the Philly followers on Monday night time. As a result of the Eagles are one of many NFC’s three wild-card groups, they have to begin their playoff journey on the highway in opposition to the NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield (4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns this season).
The Buccaneers completed the common season seventh in scoring protection, permitting simply 325 factors in comparison with the Eagles’ 428. Philly did defeat Tampa at Raymond James Stadium in Week 3, however that may as nicely be an eternity in the past — the Bucs ended the season with 5 wins from their ultimate six video games, whereas simply the alternative occurred to the Eagles.
The Eagles are favored by a discipline objective in opposition to the Bucs, however that line may simply change if star vast receiver A.J. Brown can’t play attributable to a knee damage. Brown, who rang up 1,456 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns within the common season, didn’t observe on Thursday.
