‘It’s over’: Eagles O-line is ‘hot garbage,’ Nick Sirianni is to blame, and what else they’re saying after the Rams loss
The Birds gave up a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter — and failed to convert a fourth down in the red zone — on their way to a second consecutive loss.
Despite holding a late double-digit lead, the Eagles were handed their second loss of the season Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
After a game that saw the Los Angeles Rams score 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, most of the discourse surrounding the team has been centered around concerns over a “broken” offensive line, an “inept” offense, and Nick Sirianni’s fourth-down decision-making.
Here’s everything they’re saying about the Birds following their second consecutive loss of the season, starting with the struggling O-line …
‘Their whole offensive line is broken’
After the Eagles took an early lead Sunday, they were held scoreless in the second half.
The Eagles struggled offensively, with both their touchdowns coming after the defense and special teams gifted them great field position — their two touchdown drives combined for just 52 yards. They finished the game 0-for-12 on third downs; dating back to the Bears game, they have now failed on 17 straight third-down attempts. The Eagles also added two more failed fourth-down attempts in the second half Sunday — first on a fourth-and-1 at their own 38-yard line late in the third quarter, and then on a fourth-and-goal at the Rams’ two-yard line in the fourth quarter that would’ve likely iced the game.
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On ESPN’s Get Up show, Domonique Foxworth was asked what’s wrong with the team’s offense.
“This is the first time where I feel like they kind of have a legitimate excuse,” Foxworth said. “Their whole offensive line is broken. Their best receiver is out. Their best running back is out. That gives them a little excuse to not be as good as they’ve been in the past.
“But you got to convert a first down. Like, you’re all NFL players. I understand you don’t have great players out there at this moment, but you have enough to be able to close the game out and finish on that fourth down. That was the big moment. You got to finish on that spot.”
The offensive line is ‘hot garbage’
Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan had harsher words for the offensive line.
“I think their offensive line is absolutely hot garbage right now,” Ryan said on the Get Up. “Look, Landon Dickerson, out. He’s not the player he once was anyway, even if he comes back. Neither is Lane Johnson. So, to me, they’re not moving anybody off the ball.
“They get stopped on a fourth-and-1 on the [Tush Push]. It ain’t there. It’s getting pushed back now. So, to me, that’s where it starts. It starts up front. They are abysmal up front. I get it, you don’t have DeVonta Smith, you don’t have your tight end, [Dallas] Goedert. I get all that. But it’s the offensive line, that’s the biggest issue.”
‘This loss is on Nick Sirianni’
Sure, it was a depleted Eagles team heading into Sunday’s game. They were already without DeVonta Smith (hamstring), Zack Baun (concussion), and Goedert (knee). Before kickoff, they lost Lane Johnson (personal reasons), and shortly after they lost Saquon Barkley (hamstring). Later in the game, they also lost Quinyon Mitchell (knee), Tank Bigsby (hip), and Jonathan Greenard (ankle).
But not everyone is giving the Eagles a pass for their injuries, with some questioning who is really to blame for Sunday’s loss.
Some analysts have pointed fingers at the offense, following a game that saw Jalen Hurts complete 12 of 27 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. But former Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner believes the head coach is to blame, in large part due to his fourth-down decision-making.
“Everything that could go their way, went their way,” Joyner said. “Until Nick Sirianni did what Nick Sirianni does. People are going to say, ‘But look at his record.’ But look at his record lately. When a team loses a game because the players don’t get it done, it’s one thing. It’s a whole other situation when the head coach is the reason you lose the game.
“I’m sorry, this loss today is on one Nick Sirianni. As bad as Jalen [Hurts] played and as bad as the defense played the last two possessions of the game, this loss is on Nick Sirianni.”
» READ MORE: What, exactly, do the Eagles do well? A crucial question as injuries mount and London calls. | David Murphy
‘Everybody is improving except them’
On the Nightcap podcast, Shannon Sharpe was asked if the Birds’ run as one of the NFC’s best was over. And the blame? There’s more than enough to go around according to the Hall of Famer.
“Yeah, it’s over,” Sharpe said. “Everybody is improving except them. Carolina is getting better, the Bears are getting better. The 49ers aren’t going anywhere. Seattle isn’t going anywhere. … Your quarterback, that makes $55 million, is 12-of-27 for less than 100 yards. Your run game is nonexistent. There’s so much going on that I don’t even know who to blame.
“You had it [fourth]-and-goal from the 2-yard line, you’re up 10 [points] with eight minutes and you got two turnovers and you still lose. Do you realize how inept your offense has to be? … The Eagles got some problems. They got some problems.”
