When the Eagles lose (especially to Dallas), no matter how it’s done, blame gets tossed around. It’s only natural for players to defend themselves or try to, but Nelson Agholor and Fletcher Cox are wrong. Let’s start with the big guy:

First, is that supposed to make anyone feel better? You’re just making things worse. Second, let’s name all of the positions at which the Eagles played better: Quarterback. That’s it. Carson Wentz had a very efficient game – especially when you discount drops. The o-line was solid for being banged up. The receivers were trash, the secondary got gashed late, and everyone on the team should have to sprint a mile for letting a punter run all over them. The Eagles weren’t the better team, and saying they were (even if it’s accurate, which it’s not) is stupid.

Now, getting back to those drops. Here’s Nelson Agholor:

https://twitter.com/BOBonTCN/status/793068570368409600

“I don’t give a damn, man, that shit is nothing. You just have to make the next one. Everybody runs routes. Sometimes they are contested. Sometimes you drop them. If you make as many as you possibly can that come your way, you’ll put yourself in a good position. No one is perfect…I don’t look at no drops, or that type of shit. I’m tired of hearing that shit. It’s just stupid. We play football. I dropped the first one. I didn’t drop one after that. What does it matter? Because if we lose, then it’s like we’ll place blame on this person did this. No. As a team, we have a responsibility to win football games and I get it, some plays could have helped. But there are sill four quarters of football to be played and we got to win.

Okay, so he’s about 9% right here. It’s the “if we lose, then it’s like we’ll place blame on this person did this” part. The rest of it is bullshit. For starters, if you’re tired of hearing about drops, don’t drop the ball six times as a group of receivers. If you caught four of those six, which is reasonable, Wentz goes 36 for 43 on the night, and your team has a much better chance of winning. Especially if you catch this one:

GIF by Jimmy Kempski at PhillyVoice

GIF by Jimmy Kempski at PhillyVoice

So yeah, Nelson, you caught the next one, but not all targets are equal. As Jimmy Kempski pointed out, “Had Agholor made that easy catch, it almost certainly would have gone for a first down, leaving the Eagles with a 1st and Goal from somewhere within the five-yard line.” Your “next one” that you’re all hyped about catching was an 11-yard reception on the next drive…when it was 3rd and 12. The next play was a punt. Congratufuckinlations.

The receivers’ drops aren’t the only reason the Eagles lost the game. Not even close. But when you’re a skill position, you’ve gotta actually have the skills you’re supposed to or your very visible mistakes will be talked about. Simply: If you’re tired of hearing about your drops, stop dropping the goddamn ball.

UPDATE: Flecher Cox clarifies, but it’s still an empty cliche: