“You see, I think the Eagles are hiding pieces of their game plan and doing just enough to win games.”
That was my dumb ass two weeks ago, talkin’ bout how the Eagles were running this lame-duck offense on purpose.
I was so incredibly wrong.
I did admit at the time that I thought I was being delusional, but in my defense, it just seemed impossible that there could be an offensive coordinator in the NFL who was this bad.
Kevin Patullo sure proved me wrong.
I mean, come on. It was 4th & the season, and this was the play he managed to come up with.
Are you kidding me?
Even Jalen Hurts was incredulous at the play call during that final timeout. You just can’t make this up.
As the game entered its final minutes, I turned to my father-in-law and said, “You know, I almost want them to lose this so they can finally fire Patullo and get the offense back on track.”
I could feel it coming like a bad car crash. I knew it was going to happen, but I couldn’t look away. Of course, I would have loved to see them win the game, but it would have been despite the playcalling rather than because of it. All it would have done is delay the inevitable.
This team was just not Super Bowl-ready with schoolyard-level playcalling.
And then, it happened.
Kevin Patullo was fired on Tuesday afternoon.
Say what you want, but I truly believe that 90% of their issues this season were the playcalling.
Saquon Barkley having a down year after breaking the rushing record last season? That’ll happen when defenses know exactly when you’re running. When you call runs on 3rd & 18. When you never rotate backs or establish rhythm.
Jalen Hurts bailing on clean pockets? That happens when no oneโs open because defenses know your formations. When you run four verticals into Cover 4 with the season on the line.
Yes, players left plays on the field. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith dropped passes in key moments.
But this roster was simply too talented to lay the blame at their feet. Especially when the offense is damn near identical to the one that won the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl by a combined score of 95-45 less than a year ago.
If the coaching staff does its due diligence and brings in a real offensive mind, this team is still very much capable of another Super Bowl run.
Until then, GO HAWKS!
(Y’all forgot I had dual allegiance, huh? I’ll finally explain that more when I get y’all ready for Saturday’s matchup against the Niners.)
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