PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Linebacker Haason Reddick was the target of Nick Sirianni’s yells and gestures, and the Eagles coach even addressed wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who had just caught a 36-yard touchdown. It’s true that arguments frequently break out on the sidelines in the NFL. However, these disagreements occurred in the closing stages of the Eagles’ 33-25 victory, which momentarily tied them for the NFL’s best record and awarded them the No. 2 spot in the NFC
So why is everyone so unhappy?
Because Philadelphia once again played an inept, careless game that demonstrated it is far from an elite team, and because the Eagles almost gave up a 17-point halftime lead against a weak Giants club that benched their quarterback at halftime.
However, the truth remains that the Eagles are reasonably healthy and have 11 wins. They should win the NFC East and maybe hold onto the No. 2 spot when they play the Giants one more in the season finale and Arizona on Sunday. Both games will feature huge favorites. Though the Lions might pass them at No. 2 if they win their last two games, the 49ers’ unexpected rout of Baltimore even preserved the Eagles’ long-shot chance to secure the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage.
However, the truth still is that the Eagles struggled during a three-game losing skid against the best teams in the NFL, Dallas and San Francisco, performed poorly against a mediocre Seattle squad, and had to play to thefacing the Giants, who have five wins. Nothing in this suggests that a second Super Bowl run is imminent.
Sure, there was Christmas music playing in the locker room, but overall, the Eagles were just as dejected as they always are after they lose. A few whispered to each other. A.J. Brown and Reddick had no interviews with the media. The players gathered around their lockers had private conversations. Those who did talk mostly had negative things to say about the Eagles’ situation.
Smith stated, “We have two weeks to sort it out.” “We have two weeks to solve it. We’re not playing good football; Eleven wins. We’re not where we want to be, which is offensive. I’m not satisfied that we won 11 games. We’re nowhere near where we want to be or what I and everyone else in this room want to do.
The dressing room serves as a reality check, at least.
At 11-4, the 49ers, Eagles, and Lions are all tied. Because they own the NFC tiebreakers, the 49ers are the top seed.
Sirianni remarked, “We know we have better football in us.” “It’s encouraging to be 11-4 and still have better football left in you, but let’s go on. We must arrive there.
