Eagles should take note of the Cowboys’ collapse as a cautionary tale about the repercussions of missing the playoffs.
TAMPA, Florida: The warning was visible to the Philadelphia Eagles if they had a chance to watch their fellow NFC East playoff qualifier.
Actually, the Eagles were given this warning in Week 13. Additionally, they got it in Weeks 14 and 15, and once more in Weeks 17 and 18.
Because the Eagles started to falter as the playoffs drew closer, despite their early command of the division, their 10-1 start to the season, and even the nearly won Super Bowl 11 months prior.
And to see what might occur if they finish the slide in a Monday night game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they only need to look back at the Dallas Cowboys’ Sunday collapse against the Green Bay Packers.
A dispute over coaching? Due to concerns about Mike McCarthy’s ability to end Dallas’ nearly 29-year NFC championship and Super Bowl drought, free agent Bill Belichick is already being linked to the Cowboys.
A dispute involving the quarterback? Following his two interceptions, which included a pick six, Dak Prescott informed reporters that if McCarthy’s employment was under scrutiny, then so should be his.
Contrast that with recent talks about Prescott, who was voted by a 50-member panel to be the second-best quarterback in the league this season and is regarded as a strong contender to take over as the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback.
This postseason meltdown will also raise concerns about the contract extension of Micah Parsons, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s best chance in the league, and even the Cowboys’ culture, which may or may not be best suited to a group of players who appear to be near-perennially talented but underachieving even when healthy.
Let out a breath.
Now, let’s return to the Eagles.
The Eagles’ collapse has already begun. The decline from the heights Philadelphia attained the previous season and the standards it has since failed to meet is more pronounced.
Therefore, Monday’s 8:15 p.m. ET wild-card game between the Eagles and Buccaneers won’t cause Philadelphia to collapse. It will either validate or refute the leaking rumors about the reigning NFC champions.
Let’s review the questions at stake.
After losing both coordinators, can head coach Nick Sirianni allay concerns about his capacity for success and convince general manager Howie Roseman and team owner Jeffrey Lurie that he is the right man moving forward? Naturally, the spiral has not continued forever. But since Sirianni qualified for a Super Bowl, a team that benched Doug Pederson so soon after winning one shouldn’t be written off.
Particularly now that six-time Super Bowl champion Brady Quinn is creating a stir in the league regarding the Eagles’ apparent interest in hiring him.
Jalen Hurts is the only quarterback available to the Eagles after he signed a record-breaking contract extension during the offseason. Hurts is still a gifted two-man who can intimidate a team that values physicality by using both of his arms and legs.
Particularly now that six-time Super Bowl champion Brady Quinn is creating a stir in the league regarding the Eagles’ apparent interest in hiring him.
Jalen Hurts is the only quarterback available to the Eagles after he signed a record-breaking contract extension during the offseason. Hurts is still a gifted two-man who can intimidate a team that values physicality by using both of his arms and legs.
