The Philadelphia Eagles have struggled as of late and it seems that there are different visions on the offensive side of the ball. Nick Sirianni has had trouble rallying the team and Jalen Hurts’ desired direction for the offense has not been met. There is a disconnect between Sirianni, Hurts, and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, and it has affected the team’s ability to define an offensive identity. According to an unnamed source, Hurts was hoping the team’s offensive direction would change, as he felt they were leaning too heavily on vertical routes and not utilizing short-to-intermediate throws, particularly over the middle of the field. Hurts believed that there was too much focus on flash rather than substance in the team’s play-calling decisions.
The source also described Johnson as someone who had to fit his own philosophy within an offensive structure belonging to Sirianni. The amount of autonomy that Johnson has as a playcaller is unclear. Sirianni has stated that he’ll step in to overrule a call on occasion, as he did on a critical third-and-long play against the Washington Commanders in Week 4, when Johnson wanted to pass but Sirianni decided on a run. Because of this, some offensive players are unsure who is calling the plays and when.
The team’s upcoming playoffs game could be an opportunity to turn things around for them. If successful, they will play the Detroit Lions in Detroit. This is a relatively ideal result for the Eagles and sure beats playing the San Francisco 49ers on the road. The Dallas Cowboys losing to the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions beating the Los Angeles Rams places the Eagles in a good position. They had a chance of potentially hosting a playoff game had the Rams won. However, a combination of events has left the Eagles facing the Buccaneers in the playoffs.
There is speculation about Nick Sirianni’s job security. The head coach’s job might be in jeopardy if the team does not pull through. Still, it is important to note that owner Jeffrey Lurie is not known for making rash decisions. However, if he believes that Sirianni isn’t the person to fix the team’s issues, he might enforce coaching staff changes.
Not everyone is convinced about the team’s performance and uncertainties about the future loom in the air. The losses in the last few games and an unclear path have raised questions about what is next for the team. The security chief of the Eagles, Dominic DiSandro, is expected to return to the sideline for the team’s game against Tampa Bay.
The wild card matchup between the Eagles and Buccaneers poses interesting challenges and the Eagles will have to find a way to face and manage the Buccaneers’ blitz game. Additionally, the Eagles defense has allowed over 30 points per game over the last six weeks, which adds to the significance of their upcoming match against Tampa Bay.
If the Eagles can get a win over the Buccaneers in the playoffs, it could be the spark they need to strengthen their footing and the direction of their future performance. Management will want to see progress and development from the team. With the team’s recent struggles, it is essential that they perform well in upcoming games to prove themselves.