By David Weinberg
After suffering back-to-back, lopsided losses, the Eagles’ playoff picture has gone from resembling the Mona Lisa to Dogs Playing Poker.
Last Sunday’s 33-13 defeat against the Cowboys and a 42-19 setback to San Francisco have left even the most ardent fans questioning the team’s postseason prospects.
Once considered the favorites to return to the Super Bowl from the NFC, they are currently the No. 5 seed in the conference playoffs as a wildcard team.
You know you have problems when your only touchdown is scored by a defensive tackle and your best pass is thrown by your punter.
Rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s 42-yard scoop-and-score was the Eagles’ only TD against the Cowboys. It marked the first time under the Sirianni-Jalen Hurts era that the offense failed to reach the end zone.
Punter Braden Mann fired a 28-yard strike off a fake to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus to earn a first down in the second quarter.
Hurts was a pedestrian 18-for-27 for 197 yards with no TDs and lost a costly fumble that ended a promising opening drive. Wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith also coughed up fumbles.
“This is something we’re going through,” Hurts said. “Not something we’re stuck in.”
The defense has been no better.
The 49ers and Cowboys combined to score on 10 straight possessions – nine touchdowns and a field goal – against a porous Eagles defense.
The Niners recorded TDs on six consecutive drives before a meaningless kneeldown to end the game, then the Cowboys added three TDs and a field goal in their first four series.
“Let’s be honest; we got punched in the mouth two weeks in a row,” Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said. “We got a little blood dripping from our lip. Now we’ve got to get it stitched up.”
It’s going to take an extra-large spool of thread to close some of the gashes.
The front four hasn’t been creating enough pressure, which leaves the back seven of the defense exposed.
Shoddy tackling hasn’t helped and the secondary has had trouble consistently sticking with receivers.
The team’s only bright spot has been place-kicker Jake Elliott, whose 52- and 44-yard field goals against the Cowboys enabled him to surpass 100 points for a third straight season. He’s also connected on a team-record seven field goals from 50 yards or longer this season.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has been even better. The rookie has been a perfect 30-for-30 this season – the best start by a kicker in NFL history – including four field goals against the Eagles. He booted a 60-yard and 59-yarder last Sunday to become the first kicker in league history with two field goals of 59 yards or longer in the same game.
Meanwhile, the Eagles (10-3) have to be kicking themselves over the recent slump.
Although they are tied with the Cowboys (10-3) and 49ers (10-3) for the best record in the NFC, their road to another Super Bowl appearance now has some potholes.
If the season ended today, the Niners would be the top seed in the NFC, the Cowboys would be NFC East champions and the Eagles would enter the playoffs as a wild card.
Fortunately, they have time to climb back to the top of the standings.
The Eagles presumably have the easiest remaining schedule of the contenders. They have another tough game coming up at Seattle (6-7) on Monday night, then close out the regular season with two games against the hapless Giants (4-8) and one against the Cardinals (3-10).
The Cowboys have games at the Bills (7-6), at the Dolphins (9-3), home against the Lions (9-4) and at the Commanders (4-9).
The Niners play the Cardinals, Ravens (10-3), Commanders and Rams (6-7).
“I know that everybody that’s in that locker room has been through (stuff) in their lives and has made it to this point,” Sirianni said. “They’ve made it to this point because of the (stuff) they’ve been through.
“Adversity can do a couple things to you. It can break you or it can make it way better.”
We’re about to find out what it does to the Eagles.
Local NFL update
Speaking of the Cowboys, second-year safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) played a big role in the win over the Eagles. He caused one of the Eagles’ fumbles, knocking the ball loose from Smith in the fourth quarter, to go with four tackles and a pass defense.
Chargers DT Austin Johnson (St. Augustine Prep, Galloway Township) had three tackles in a 24-7 loss to Denver.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (Vineland) sat out a 20-17 loss to the Bills with a shoulder contusion.
Packers WR Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) was scheduled to play special teams on Monday night against the Giants.
Local boxer earns win
Somers Point featherweight Miguel Garcia (3-0) stayed unbeaten last Saturday night with a four-round, unanimous decision over Mychal Bynum (1-5), of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, at Showboat Atlantic City. Garcia is trained by Egg Harbor Township’s Arnold Robbins and Atlantic City’s Osnel Charles.
Mixed martial arts return to Atlantic City on Saturday when Cage Fury Fighting Championships brings a card to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
