Five Big-Picture Takeaways from Eagles’ Week 10 Loss vs Dolphins

5.) Things Could Be Much Worse

Nov 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly on the sidelines against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe my phrasing leaves a bit to be desired, but a last-second field goal by Stephen Gostkowski to sink the Giants made the Eagles’ loss a bit easier to stomach. No matter how much those on the outside beat themselves over the head with complaints of how weak a division is, the structure of the NFL’s postseason system is not fool-proof. Every team’s goal at the start of the season is to win their division. That is the only way to assure a playoff berth and a chance at the goals beyond that. Though their depth chart looks a little different from the start of action, the Eagles still find themselves positioned to win an NFC East crown.

Had New York pulled off a shocker to hand the Giants their first loss of the season, one could have argued it would have the same effect as a win over the Eagles. The Eagles still have a date with New England on the horizon. Many have simply started to pencil in the Patriots as a winner over whatever team they face. Because of this, a Giants win over the Patriots combined with an Eagles loss in a winnable game could have proved devastating. New England got the job done, however, and also find themselves starting to deal with significant injuries themselves.

Perhaps it’s only on the outside looking in, but the Eagles conduct themselves as professionally as any team with this much turmoil can. There is very little panic in the locker room following losses just as there is not much jubilance that comes after a win. The mindset in that locker room is that each game acts as its own separate portion of the season and has no carry-over effect into the following week. The Eagles know they missed an opportunity on Sunday. None of the players are trying to fool themselves into thinking otherwise. Given their track record for the season to date, one can likely trust they will not carry the disappointment of the loss to Miami into next Sunday’s matchup with the Buccaneers.

There will be a handful of tough questions thrown at Chip Kelly and the Eagles this week. They deserve to hear them. Sunday was a brutal showing against a wounded opponent. It’s possible that a few of the players or coaches delivers an answer they might regret. While personnel decisions and game-planning has been an issue in 2015, it’s hard to identify the team’s mental and psychological frame-of-mind as one. They will not shy away from discussing their mistakes nor will they point a finger of blame. While that is all well and good, a slight sense of urgency at this point of the season might just unearth something this team needs. If they continue to go through the motions, the Eagles will find themselves scratching their heads at the start of another early off-season.