The defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles did their level best to make their wild-card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like a preseason game. Between the horrible schemes on offense and defense, the poor execution on both sides of the ball, the miserable coverage and tackling on defense, and the complete lack of a blitz plan on offense against a Bucs defense that had blitzed at the third-highest rate in the regular season (40.1% behind only the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants), head coach Nick Sirianni, offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia were both singularly and collectively unprepared for what became a 32-9 rout at the hands of the Bucs.
Now that the 2023 Eagles’ season is over, ending as it did with six losses in the team’s last seven games (including this embarrassment) after a 10-1 start, one has to wonder what team owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman will have to say about the coaching issues.
What we already know is that based on social media reactions, America has had ENOUGH of his particular Eagles team.
pain
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/8fpwNdRYKG
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 16, 2024
This needs to happen for real change to occur. Even a reasonably close loss would allow Lurie and Howie to rationalize letting this poorly schemed, terribly confused mess to continue.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 16, 2024
Exclusive footage of the Eagles arriving at Raymond James Stadium today … pic.twitter.com/eNYSmyPgJG
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) January 16, 2024
If I ever put a QB through what Philly is putting Jalen through , I apologize. Pick up a blitz !
— Jay Gruden (@Coach_JayGruden) January 16, 2024
This offensive system should never see the light of day ever again, and anyone who would allow it to is just part of the problem. Not on any level of football. It set the players up to fail continually and allowed defenses to dictate the terms of play.
— Honest NFL (@TheHonestNFL) January 16, 2024
Ray Lewis… NOT happy with the Eagles defense
(cc: @RayLewis) pic.twitter.com/oSdHRezebP
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) January 16, 2024
The Eagles were the 55th team since the merger to win at least 10 of their first 11 games of a season. Only 2 of those teams failed to make it to the divisional round that season:
2020 Steelers (lost to Browns in wild-card game)
2019 Patriots (lost to Titans in wild-card game)— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) January 16, 2024
Two former Pro Bowlers in Bradberry + Byard. You can't let a six-yard speed out become a TD. These are supposed to be the reliable guys! pic.twitter.com/N24oIHS7MG
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 16, 2024
"Do the Eagles have the speed to deal with Trey Palmer? I don't think so. This could be brutal." @gregcosell pic.twitter.com/0dqKwcLShP
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 16, 2024
Bucs are having a lot of early success against this Eagles defense underneath on crossing routes. Otton with a pickup of 24 yards. Favorable matchup against linebacker Nick Morrow…Eagles in quarters coverage on the play.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) January 16, 2024
The Bucs' 178 yards in the first quarter was more than they had in the Week 3 game against #Eagles (174)
— John McMullen (@JFMcMullen) January 16, 2024
Offense can’t pick us if we just pick each other first – Matt Patricia pic.twitter.com/ebz64ehXoo
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) January 16, 2024
What happened to Philly’s Defense!? pic.twitter.com/GMFTq7watj
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) January 16, 2024
it's almost as if radically changing the structure of your defense 2/3 of the way through the season when you can't really practice might be a bad thing
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 16, 2024
David Moore had 94 receiving yards in the entire regular season, but he comes up with a 44-yard touchdown — he has two catches for 66 yards and Bucs lead the Eagles 10-0, 5:47 left in the first.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 16, 2024
Eagles defense takes worse angles than my husband when I ask him to take a photo of me https://t.co/mLRa3i2AUF
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 16, 2024
Jeffrey Lurie — not pleased. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/TOxPOZ7GLz
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) January 16, 2024
