The Philadelphia Eagles are aware of the importance of maintaining their focus to avoid self-destruction.
With a nine-game winning streak under their belt, the Eagles (11-2) have secured their fourth consecutive playoff appearance. They are currently vying for the NFC East title and still hold a chance to catch up to Detroit (12-1) for the top seed in the NFC.
However, their recent unattractive victory against Carolina, where quarterback Jalen Hurts completed only 21 passes for a mere 108 yards, has left wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith feeling frustrated. The duo expressed that the team’s offensive unit, especially the passing game, is not performing up to expectations.
Brown’s frustration is evidently shared by Smith. Hurts has struggled, throwing for less than 200 yards across three consecutive games. Fortunately for the Eagles, Saquon Barkley’s impressive rushing performance means the team has not relied heavily on Hurts to connect with Brown and Smith as frequently as in past games.
In the matchup against the Panthers, Brown caught four passes on as many targets for 43 yards, while Smith secured four receptions on six targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. This led Brown to simply respond with “passing” when questioned about the areas needing improvement post-game.
Adding to the narrative, veteran player Brandon Graham stirred the pot on his radio show Monday night, insinuating tension between Brown and Hurts. Before joining the Eagles, the two shared a close friendship, with Hurts even being the godfather to Brown’s daughter.
“The person that’s complaining (needs) to be accountable,” Graham said regarding Brown. He emphasized that while Hurts is making efforts, Brown could perhaps handle issues with more grace, considering their past friendship. “It’s important to remember the business side of things; we should avoid letting personal feelings interfere with our goals, especially now that we know it’s a problem.”
Graham, who is currently out due to a triceps injury, later clarified his statements to an ESPN reporter, acknowledging that he might have misinterpreted the relationship between Hurts and Brown and expressed a desire to apologize to both players.
However, the damage might have already been done, or has it?
Despite social media buzzing with reports of discord in Philadelphia, the Eagles have faced similar challenges in the past. Following a 10-1 start last season, the team collapsed, losing six of their last seven games, culminating in a significant playoff defeat against Tampa Bay. This raised concerns surrounding Hurts’ leadership capabilities, teamwork dynamics, and criticism aimed at coach Nick Sirianni for the team’s overall performance.
After overcoming a tumultuous offseason, the Eagles stand at 11-2 this season, positioning themselves for a potential Super Bowl run. The key now is to foster cooperation, prioritize team success, and concentrate on striving for a championship, rather than dwelling on individual performance metrics.
A single standout passing game could revitalize the Eagles’ outlook.
As for Bill Belichick, the legendary coach cannot surpass Don Shula’s record of all-time NFL wins from the college coaching realm. Regardless of whether his interest in the University of North Carolina’s coaching vacancy is sincere, he must return to the NFL to aim for the title of the winningest coach in the league’s history.
The pressing question is whether he will have that opportunity. Out of eight coaching openings last season, Belichick only interviewed with Atlanta. The revered coach, who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl victories alongside Tom Brady, needs to secure 27 more wins to break Shula’s record for the most regular-season triumphs, and he is now 15 victories away from eclipsing Shula’s total wins that include playoffs.
In a recent appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” the 72-year-old Belichick shared his perspective on taking on a college role. “If I were leading a college program, it would serve as a route to the NFL for players capable of competing at that level. It would replicate a professional program with the necessary training, nutrition, scheme, and techniques tailored to transition seamlessly into the NFL,” he stated. He noted that changes such as NIL and the transfer portal have made the college game increasingly similar to the professional landscape.
It seems prudent for Belichick to evaluate all available options and engage with every interested team. The opportunity at North Carolina might emerge as his best bet for a return to coaching, even if it doesn’t contribute wins to his NFL record.