The Eagles are a mess, and things just might get worse

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — As the third quarter ended here Thursday night and several members of the New York Giants’ defense celebrated tackling Saquon Barkley for a 2-yard loss, A.J. Brown wandered around in the nearest end zone, alone, as if he were tipsy and trying to find his way home.

Then, a few minutes later, after Jalen Hurts threw a backbreaking interception to end a drive inside the Giants’ 20-yard line, there was Brown by himself again. His teammates were trying to chase down Cor’Dale Flott, who was sprinting 68 yards to set up another touchdown. But Brown never picked up his pace. Nearly 11½ minutes remained in regulation. The Eagles were trailing by 10 points. Was Brown dejected? Was he frustrated? Was he weighing what to post on social media? What was going through his mind?

“Accepting we [were] about to lose,” he said. “That was, like, our last chance. We had to get points there, and we didn’t.”

» READ MORE: Grading the Eagles' loss to the Giants

There could be no more revealing statement about this team at this moment. Brown wasn’t the only Eagles player who looked lost during this 34-17 debacle, a second consecutive loss, a performance so sloppy, so uninspired, and so concerning that it ought to spark serious self-evaluation from every person who works in the NovaCare Complex. He just gave voice to the surrendering.

It was natural to expect some regression from last season, from an 18-3 overall record and a dominant championship run. But this fall-off is so steep that one has to wonder what the next 12 weeks will hold for this team. Hell, one has to wonder what will happen nine days from now in Minneapolis, when the Eagles play next, because what happened Thursday night at MetLife Stadium was as ugly as it gets.

» READ MORE: Al Michael’s slip-up, Jaxson Skywalker, and more from the Eagles-Giants telecast

The Giants had lost four of their first five games this season, have had two winning seasons over the last 13 years, and have been doormats in the NFC East for most of the last decade-plus. Yet all it took was the presence of two rookies — quarterback Jaxson Dart and raging-bull running back Cam Skattebo — for them suddenly to be stronger, tougher, and more dynamic on offense than the defending Super Bowl champions. There might be some excuse-making and pleas for optimism over the next several days: Jalen Carter was hurt and didn’t play. Landon Dickerson was hurt and didn’t play. Nolan Smith is still hurt and didn’t play. Quinyon Mitchell got hurt and couldn’t continue playing. And, hey, any given Thursday night, etc., etc.

» READ MORE: Jaxson Dart modeled his game after Jalen Hurts, who thinks the Giants rookie QB is ‘a hell of a player’ | Mike Sielski

Don’t believe any such spin. Once those players return, assuming they all do, the Eagles will be better, of course, but there are plenty of problems here that have nothing to do with any injuries.

Among Hurts, Brown, Barkley, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, the Eagles have more than enough talent to put up plenty of points. Or, at least, to move the ball more easily than they have this season. Everything looks so challenging, so hard. Hurts appeared to botch a hurry-up possession at the end of the first half, scrambling for 9 yards, failing both to get a first down and to leave himself enough time to spike the ball and stop the clock. The offensive line, once the engine of the offense, hasn’t played so poorly in a long time. Whatever Hurts, Brown, and Barkley said to each other in their sit-down Monday sure didn’t make much difference Thursday.

“I don’t recall a meeting; I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Brown, who clearly did recall the meeting and did know what everyone was talking about and just didn’t want talk about it himself. “I don’t recall.”

He snickered, but these two losses in the last four days, the first to the Denver Broncos, this one to the Giants, are no laughing matter. The defense, over the last game and a half, had gotten outthought and pushed around. The No. 2 corner spot has been a soft target for six weeks now, whether Kelee Ringo or Adoree’ Jackson has been manning it. There’s no consistent pass rush. The youngest, most inexperienced players are making big mistakes; rookie safety Drew Mukuba missed a tackle Thursday night that led to a New York touchdown. And even the Eagles’ special teams — the unit that has won them a couple of games already — was horrid. That Howie Roseman traded two draft picks for Tank Bigsby seems a rare misbegotten move but a noticeable one. Bigsby fouled up a couple of kickoff returns and was benched. Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo don’t use him on offense at all. He has been symptomatic of a team that, while still 4-2, seems a ghost of what it was and what it was supposed to be.

“We’re still trying to find our identity,” Brown said. “I think that’s safe to say.”

Sure is. Super Bowl LIX was just eight months ago, but that passage of time feels like a lifetime now. Nine days now to try to get things right, or as close to it as possible. First things first: Be sure to check Twitter/X. No one can say for certain how crazy things might get, and if this troubling trend continues, it’ll be important to recall the details.