Five Big-Picture Takeaways From Eagles Week 11 Loss to Buccaneers

Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper (14) reacts after a Tampa Bay Buccaneers interception during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

4.) The Level of Disinterest on the Field is an Extreme Concern for Remainder of Season

Among the most difficult elements of playing a 16-game NFL season is maintaining a necessary level of focus as the conditions worsen. As the season plays out and the stakes get higher, the wear and tare of each game have a cumulative physical and mental effect on players. With all of the distractions that can linger on a player’s mind, those capable of shutting out the noise are the ones that often flourish when it matters most (see: Brady, Tom). Combine that with injuries, contract issues, and any number of variables that a player may face, and it’s a wonder how some can maintain focus.

Focus has been an issue for the Eagles all season. Drops, penalties, miscommunication, etc. have all plagued the 2015 season. In spite of all this, the Eagles managed to coax their way to a 4-4 record during the first half of the season. With a perceived easy slate of games coming off their win over the Cowboys, one would have imagined there could not have been a better time to work on these issues. Instead, the better part of the Eagles roster appears to have taken their eyes off the prize and the losses are compounding as a result of it.

Not only were these types of issues prevalent during the Eagles loss on Sunday, but the team allowed their mistakes to have a snowball effect. An offsides penalty on Brandon Graham on 3rd and 6 on the Bucs first scoring drive gave Tampa Bay a second chance at a conversion. Doug Martin took the next play down to the Eagles 8-yard line and the offensive onslaught was officially underway. Twice the Eagles had opportunities for interceptions with the Buccaneers in the end zone after giving up big yardage along the way. Instead, the dropped interceptions gave new life to Tampa Bay and they capitalized with touchdowns.

Being in position to make a play is only half the battle. Teams that make the aforementioned plays are the ones that come away with hard-fought victories in November/December. Those teams that allow opportunities fall through their fingers often end up on the wrong side of the win-loss column. What was especially frustrating Sunday was seeing players going through the motions instead of playing with the urgency of a team desperate for a win. Byron Maxwell was out-fought for a ball on a play that should have ended with a Tampa Bay turnover, or at the least an incompletion. Failing to wrap up Doug Martin on multiple occasions in the backfield or near the line of scrimmage resulted in the running back turning in a near-historic performance.

The Eagles looked like a team that either felt sorry for itself on Sunday, or had no interest in taking the field at all. For a team riddled with veterans who joined the organization to try to win a Super Bowl, this is a particularly troubling trend. It’s one thing to get fired up for a game against a division rival, it’s a whole different story when it comes to taking care of business at home against a non-division foe.