Eagles Coach Called Out, Fans Demand Firing After Loss to Cowboys
There was plenty of criticism directed at the Philadelphia Eagles following their Week 14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, 33-13, from both fans and commentators, but the majority of it was directed at the team’s offensive coordinator, Brian Johnson, and defensive coordinator, Sean Desai.
The Eagles offence was unable to overcome their sluggish start and battled throughout the game against the Cowboys defence. Philadelphia trailed 24-6 at the break after only two Jake Elliott field goals in the first half.
The Eagles buckled down on defense in the second half, holding Dallas to just nine points. But their offense still couldn’t get anything going, failing to score at all in the final two quarters. Rookie defensive lineman Jalen Carter scored the team’s only touchdown on a fumble return.
While both Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and starting quarterback Jalen Hurts took blame for the lackluster performance, social media had loads to say about Johnson’s offensive scheme, while fans called for he and Desai to both to be fired.
Social Media Reacts to Eagles’ Offense vs. Cowboys
In their defeat to the Cowboys, the Eagles committed three fumbles: one by Hurts, one by wideout DeVonta Smith in the fourth quarter, and one by receiver A.J. Brown on the team’s first drive of the third quarter. Although the turnovers were all disastrous, Philadelphia’s offensive problems extended beyond them.
Johnson’s confusing play calls and concepts, as well as the use of certain players, caused social media to criticise and disparage the Eagles offensive coordinator in equal measure.
“Dude, the offensive coordinator is not very smart. I apologise,” Diante Lee of The Athletic responded, attaching a picture of Brown’s route map. This season, Brown hasn’t had nearly as many opportunities in the middle of the field as he had the previous one, when he was deadly there.
“I think they have to take a hard look at the offense and figure out how to make things easier. Their expectation is their guys are going to win their reps. You just don’t see a lot of easy wins from a schematic standpoint,” Bleeding Green Nation wrote on X
Others found some oddness in the fact that Johnson’s name has been among those mentioned as a possible head coaching candidate next offseason.
Fans Call for Firing of DC Sean Desai Fay After Loss
A few supporters have also had enough of Desai, whose defence has allowed 36.3 points per game on average over the past three games. Many supporters expressed their anger with the Eagles DC in their inaugural season, not only on social media but also in person at the NovaCare Centre. On December 11, the day following the defeat, an Eagles supporter raised a sign that read, “Fire Sean Desai”:
Philadelphia’s points allowed (24.7) rank them 28th in the league. With a sixth-best average of 94.0 yards per game versus the run, the Eagles have shown resilience against the pass. But against the pass, things have transpired differently. Philadelphia is giving up 259.9 air yards per game. That is rated 28th as well.
The Eagles lost their coordinators on both sides of the ball last offseason, so some growing pains are to be expected.
Former offensive lineman Shane Steichen, who gave Hurts a lot of easy looks the previous season, was brought in to lead the Indianapolis Colts. Jonathan Gannon, a former defensive coordinator, was also hired as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach.
How the club performs in the last stretch and during the playoffs will determine a lot. Desai and Johnson can reduce the noise if they figure out how to make their respective units better. If not, the noise will just increase.
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