Despite picking up a week-three win over the Saints, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni really held the team back. There were plenty of questionable decisions on his part throughout the game that are inexcusable in terms of the bigger picture. So, how should the Eagles handle him going forward?
Why Was He The Problem Sunday?
Probably the most telling factor as to what led to Sunday’s bizarre, offensive performance was a familiar issue. That problem is, of course, Sirianni’s involvement in playcalling. When the team brought in new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, the expectation was that Sirianni would take a step back from the offense to take more of a CEO role. That would mean that Moore would be in primary control of running the offense. However, through the first three weeks, Sirianni seems to have more of a role in the playbook than initially thought.
Sunday’s win in New Orleans was the most telling example of this. The game was plagued with many questionable calls and offensive decisions, especially on 4th down. The Eagles passed up multiple field goal attempts to go for it and try to extend drives in New Orleans territory. With how exceptionally the defense played in week 3, those extra scoring opportunities would have added enough of a cushion on the lead to where they wouldn’t have needed a game-winning drive from Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley if everything else in the game played out the same.
What Did Sirianni Say After The Game?
The most egregious of these fourth-down calls came just before halftime. With 14 seconds left, Sirianni could have opted to kick a field and tie the game 3-3 going into the half, with the Birds receiving the ball to start the third quarter. Instead, Sirianni opted for a fake “tush push” handoff to Barkley that got stuffed. The Eagles head coach took accountability for the questionable decision in his post-game presser. That doesn’t make it sting any less, though, for a game that was full of questionable decisions. Sirianni also admitted he still dabbles in the playcalling, which was apparent throughout the day.
It wasn’t just playcalling killing the team either, they were also very undisciplined. The team had multiple offensive drives halted or undone due to the seven penalties they racked up, costing 45 yards. If Sirianni is taking on more of a “CEO” role, shouldn’t he at least make sure the play on the field looks organized and crisp? That wasn’t the case Sunday.
What Should The Team Do With Sirianni Going Forward?
This is the question of the hour amongst Philly fans. The frustration with Sirianni is that the offense is too talented to look this inept, even without A.J. Brown. A team led by Jalen Hurts, Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and a perennial top-five o-line should be able to put up more than 15 points. Furthermore, it seems the Eagles have increasingly fallen back into Sirianni’s bad habits over the past two weeks. In week 1, the Birds put up 34 points and used pre-snap motion over half the game to create opportunities downfield. The offense has looked much more stagnant over the last two weeks, with overreliance on conservative plays like screen passes.
The fact of the matter is that Sirianni must stay away from playcalling. He’s been proven multiple times to be bad at it. Whether it was last season’s collapse or the first seven games of 2021. Sirianni’s system just doesn’t work. If the offense continues to struggle under his leadership, Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie might have to make a tough decision with him. They either would need to tell him to stay away from playcalling altogether and let Moore run the offense fully or possibly pull the plug on him. If the team went with the nuclear option, Moore would probably become the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Either way, unless Sirianni somehow starts coaching like a completely different person in the next couple of weeks, the Eagles head coach could be in serious jeopardy of losing his job.
Main Image: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
