Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles: The Day After

By Nick Piccone

Published: Jan 12th, 2026 · 8:59 AM EST

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Well, I can’t exactly say I’m surprised at how the Eagles’ season ended. Ultimately, the offense could not formulate a competent enough drive to extend the season that probably would have ended in Chicago next weekend anyway.

Remember when J.T. Realmuto said the Phillies had hoped to flip a switch offensively heading into the 2024 MLB Playoffs? Many of us hoped that’d be the same for the Eagles’ offense heading into their Wild Card game against the 49ers. 

Once again, the offense scored a couple touchdowns and then completely turtled when it mattered the most. Blame Jake Elliott all you want, but it’s only because of him that the Eagles even had a chance to win the game with a touchdown at the end because the offense couldn’t take advantage of two Quinyon Mitchell interceptions – punting on one and relying on Elliott for three points on the other.

Make no mistake, this wasn’t akin to the 2023 collapse. Instead, it was a 2025 fall forward. A long, plodding, excruciating fall forward. The defense could only hold this team above water for so long. Vic Fangio deserves the Philly Sports Fan Peace Prize, because he’s the only reason we had any hope the team could come away with a victory.

Nonetheless, a trick play did the defense in, something the Eagles’ offense seemed incapable of doing all season. And, sure, a great offense doesn’t exactly need a bunch of trick plays, but it also doesn’t need a bunch of conservative ones designed to play Puntball. 

The identity of the Eagles’ offense the last two seasons was to simply not turn the ball over. There’s obviously something to be said for that, but when you’re handcuffing your most talented offensive playmakers because you’re afraid Jalen Hurts might throw a pick, you’re not really maximizing the potential of the team. I mean, the Eagles were +2 in the turnover battle Sunday and lost at home anyway. While last year I was certainly a proponent of not taking risks for the sake of taking risks, it feels like this season they had some more rope where they could have taken shots and if you throw an interception, so be it. It’s not like they were afraid to punt, anyway. If it makes the offense more comfortable and fluid, there’s a good chance they’re still playing ball. When you have a defense that good, taking risks shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. Better-designed plays would probably lessen the risk, anyway.

Obviously A.J. Brown’s drops hurt them a lot on Sunday. Saquon Barkley got bottled up quite a few times despite rushing for 106 yards. I’m not even sure what they thought the last offensive play would give them, but Hurts made a terrible decision regardless. The ‘letting the defense dictate what the offense does’ philosophy obviously didn’t work, especially with how defenses knew exactly what the offense was doing. I’m not even convinced that ego was involved in the offense not changing a lick all season long – it’s more incompetence than anything. 

The only relief coming out of that game was the belief we’ve seen the last of Kevin Patullo calling plays. And if all of these plays were under Sirianni’s influence, there’s a chance he gives up some of that influence with a new offensive coordinator, especially if it’s an outside one. The only reason this team didn’t get blown out every week with this offensive dreck is because the defense was just too good. 

And just remember, we’re on pace to see a better offense next season. 2022-good. 2023-bad. 2024-good. 2025-bad.