A defensive meltdown for the ages led to the Philadelphia Eagles getting pounded on the road in the wild card round of the playoffs by quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayfield went from looking like a temporary replacement quarterback to the possible long-term answer for the Buccaneers under center. And it all came at the expense of Matt Patricia’s defense.
Mayfield hung 337 passing yards and three touchdowns on the Eagles in a playoff game.
That ugly performance apparently struck a nerve with New England Patriots fans, who started rehashing their grievances with Patricia on social media. Patricia has spent 15 years in total coaching for the Patriots, but in his final year with the team in 2022, coach Bill Belichick made the odd decision to move him to offensive play-caller as the replacement for Josh McDaniels.
That decision sunk the Patriots offense and destroyed Mac Jones’ confidence at quarterback. In many ways, the Patriots are still paying for that decision to this very day.
So it should come as no surprise to see fans having a little fun at the expense of the Eagles, who lost 32-9 to the Buccaneers after promoting Patricia from senior defensive assistant to defensive play-caller.
Here are some of the best comments from Patriots Twitter:
It's weird in hindsight how badly Matt Patricia failed with the Patriots offense when he's done so well with the Buccs, Cards and Giants offenses in recent weeks. #NFLPlayoffs
— Fred (@OneFredOne) January 16, 2024
All this proves is how Brady was able to carry the patriots for all those years in spite of Matt Patricia
— Wholesome Mike (@Mike_tweeter1) January 16, 2024
"Matt Patricia" @Eagles fans know he's a miserable failure as a DC. Imagine how @Patriots fans felt when Belichick hired him as OC? He absolutely DESTROYED Mac Jones' confidence (& Pats fans should be ASHAMED of themselves for blaming Mac).
It's taken @Lions 3 years to recover— Hermicane (@Hermicane8) January 16, 2024
Matt patricia is probably the worst coach in the nfl. His patriot defense were hot garbage…im still not sure how he parlayed that into a head coaching job
— Chet (@Murky_Water) January 16, 2024
There’s about to be a reunion of:
Bill Belichick (fired)
Josh McDaniels (fired)
Matt Patricia (looking likely 🔥)“Patriots South”
— Texas Chief (T.C.) ❤️💛 🏈 🏆🏆🏆 (@AustinTxChief) January 16, 2024
Matt Patricia helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl as Patriots defensive coordinator and also helped the Eagles lose the Wild Card game as their defensive coordinator!
Matt Patricia is the problem !!@Patriots @Eagles
— Sushil Motwani (@scmotwani) January 16, 2024
Matt Patricia has successfully brought the “Patriot Way” to Philly. 😬 pic.twitter.com/nJKHekgruj
— Sterling Furrowh (@FurrowhSterling) January 16, 2024
Matt Patricia as the Patriots OC last season was one of the worst coaching jobs in memory. Matt Patricia as the Eagles DC tonight says “Hold my beer”.
— Andrew Stephens (@AStephensPGA) January 16, 2024
Matt Patricia was calling plays for the Patriots offense a year ago
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) January 16, 2024
lol you guys let Matt Patricia ruin your team like the Patriots did way to go Eagles you guys are done !!!
— Jedi Master (@JediMas49467948) January 16, 2024
Matt Patricia really got the revenge for the eagles beating the patriots in the superbowl.
— Scott Shifflett (@scott_shifflett) January 16, 2024
People use to try to me, a Patriots fan, that Matt Patricia was a good coach because of those Super Bowl winning defenses he coached
It’s easy to coach the likes of Darrelle Revis, Donta Hightower, etc
You see what he did when he had to build his own team without Belichick
— 3000 books a year (@reefthatsit) January 16, 2024
✅ DC of Patriots that gave up 45 points to Nick Foles in the SB
✅ HC of Lions who destroyed team & culture
✅ OC of Patriots who ran a historically bad offense
✅ DC of 10-1 Eagles who destroyed their seasonMatt Patricia = definition of failing upward
— chadridgeway (@chadridgeway) January 16, 2024
When Matt Patricia was defensive coordinator for the Patriots in the Super Bowl against the Eagles, Patriots lost because their defense couldn’t tackle. Ironic that the Eagles defense can’t tackle tonight with Patricia as defensive coordinator. Butler didn’t play in either game
— Neal B. Costello (@neal_costello) January 16, 2024
matt patricia should not be a coach in this league. he was terrible as both the offensive and defensive coordinator for the patriots and as hc for the lions. no prowess to his game at all
— LON3/AUBURN JAY🥶💙🖤🧡 (@LEFTLON3) January 16, 2024
What led to Matt Patricia becoming def coordinator? Y'all realize that he was def coordinator for the .@Patriots who let Nick Foles outduel .@tombrady? What am I missing, I don't get it. #eagles
— Jae's Corner by Jae Oh, CFP (@JaeOhCFP) January 16, 2024
As a Patriots fan, I've been telling people for years that Matt Patricia is worthless as a coach in any capacity. His defenses allow tons of yards and generate no pressure, yet he keeps convincing people to hire him #MattPatricia #Eagles
— ringof dragons (@DragonsRingof) January 16, 2024
I think Matt Patricia messed up New England patriots offense and now is messing up Philadelphia’s defense no tackling drills
— Bob sterling (@Bobpops) January 16, 2024
Gotta admit it’s a little triggering watching the broadcast cut to Matt Patricia as his unit is floundering.
Have us Patriots fans not suffered enough?
— Ryan Heath (@QBLRyan) January 16, 2024
@benmaller was Matt Patricia worse with the Patriots as OC or with the eagles after taking over play calling responsibilities? I used to think this rocket scientist was a football genius. Maybe not…
— Kevin Aldrich (@KevAldrich3) January 16, 2024
