Eagles Season Fizzles Out With 1 Final Lackluster Performance

When the Eagles hoisted the Lombardi Trophy last year, it felt like the start of something special. Like just maybe this could be the start of the Eagles dynasty that Philly fans have dreamed about. They were stacked with talent on both sides of the ball, and more importantly, were mostly a young team.

The difference a year can make. Forget repeating as champions; they couldn't even manage one playoff win. After a year where the offense looked mediocre in nearly every game, they managed one more lackluster performance vs the 49ers to close out the season. They fell 23-19, and their dynasty fell to pieces before it could even get off the ground.

As in so many games this season, they actually looked alright for a half. 13 points is nothing to write home about, but they managed to move the ball, and found the end zone twice.

But the second half brought things to a screeching halt. They managed just 6 measly points. For context, they started around the 50-yard line 3 different times thanks to two Quinyon Mitchell picks, and 1 awful punt by the Niners. They got just 2 field goals off that prime field position.

They were plagued by drops and poor play calling. AJ Brown alone was guilty of 3 drops. Those drops were the only impact AJ Brown made in that 2nd half, before he went into the locker room and declined to face the media after the loss.

Jake Elliott made his FGs, but also missed an extra point. That extra point made all the difference. Had he hit it, the Eagles could have kicked a field goal at the end of the game and at least forced OT. Instead, they had to go for it on 4th down, and they lost.

None of this was new. The Eagles' offense massively underperformed all season. Kevin Patullo never settled into the job, and a once elite O-Line looked average the entire season.

It is the most expensive offense in the league. Stacked with former All-Pros. But at no point this season did they look like the offense we saw last season.

The defense was fantastic. But so often this season, the offense hung them out to dry. They led the league in 3-and-outs. The defense rarely got rest, and we saw the effect as they lost steam down the stretch of this game. The 49ers game was the same story.

There are going to be changes. For one, they have a lot of roster decisions to make. This might have been the last season where the defense is cheap. Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are up for extensions. As is Nolan Smith. Jaelan Phillips is set to hit free agency. They need to figure out if they want to being him back or not. And Nakobe Dean's rookie contract is up.

Needing to invest more on the defensive side means the offense needs to get cheaper. The place most assume they will cut from is WR, specifically moving AJ Brown. Put aside all the drama around Brown; they might need to trade him just to open up cap space. Factor in his unhappiness, and frankly, his lackluster performance this season, moving on makes a ton of sense.

Dallas Goedert is a free agent. Goedert was one of the few parts of the offense that worked. He led the team in TDs, and scored both of their TDs in this game. But can they even afford to bring him back? Probably not.

Apart from the players, they likely need to find a 5th Offensive Coordinator in as many years. I get why they gave Kevin Patullo a chance. But the hiring was a massive failure. This offense was way too talented to be this mediocre. They can't risk another season where the offense is run this poorly.

This will be a busy and important offseason. Even with some of the moves they will need to make, this is still a team that can have a bright future. But things are going to look different. Howie Roseman will need to ace the offseason and add some young ( and importantly cheap) offensive players in the draft. And they might have to cut ties with one of the best WRs in franchise history.

This season was a failure. There is no getting around that. They are too talented to have fizzled out like this in the first round. Expecting them to win a Super Bowl every season is not realistic. But what they showed is nowhere near good enough.

Winning the NFC East and making the playoffs is no longer good enough. They set a new standard. And this pattern of being great one season, and falling part the next, is not going to fly. They need to be better than this.