Although the Philadelphia Eagles are 10–4 and have clinched a berth in this year’s postseason, things have been on the edge for the franchise having lost three consecutive games.
However, the franchise’s struggles in the month of December started before its three-game skid, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. After the Eagles defeated the Buffalo Bills in Week 12, a source recently told the Inquirer that the team’s disposition could be described as one of “the most miserable” for the then 10–1 team, heading into a pivotal Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers dismantled the Eagles, 42–19, and started Philadelphia’s downward spiral. Now, with additional losses to the Dallas Cowboys and most recently the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football in Week 15, the friction inside NovaCare Complex has increased.
Lindsey Wasson/AP
Two key factors in Philadelphia’s decline have been the play of quarterback Jalen Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni’s recent demotion of the Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai. With Sirianni making the move, it has generated a sense of “panic” between the team’s leadership and its players, per The Inquirer.
Although questions have loomed about Hurt’s health, the Eagles signal-caller hasn’t played the same in the last three weeks as he did in the team’s first 11 games. In the past three weeks, Hurts has thrown for 638 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions while completing 59.7% of his passes and rushing for 132 yards. Hurts has also been sacked four times in the three-game span.
Hurts isn’t one to say many words, despite being the commander of the Eagles’ offense on the field. However, some leaders around the team want Hurts to open up more in the locker room and “take more of an outward leadership style” with the team during tough moments, according to The Inquirer.
Philadelphia will seek to snap a three-game skid when the Eagles (10–4) play host to the New York Giants (5–9) at 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
