The Philadelphia Eagles may be the most scrutinized 4-1 team in NFL history. Despite still looking like the heavy favorites to win the NFC East once again, the Eagles are under fire, most notably for their lackluster offense. The biggest culprit of it all is offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
Why Patullo has been at the center of all criticism is understandable. Last year, the Eagles had one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. With pretty much the same core, a proven QB, an elite offensive line, and as good a pass-catching group as there is in the NFL, the Eagles' offense is now in shambles, ranking 30th in total yards.
Kevin Patullo's Attempts to Paint a Rosy Picture Are Falling Flat
The first-time offensive coordinator seems aware he's on thin ice and has begun to do damage control ahead of Week 6. Two days before the Thursday Night Football clash against the Giants, Patullo said, "We've done a good job. We just gotta keep progressing and working through this. Everybody's into this. Everyone is super detailed. We just have to keep pushing. Because when we've done what we need to do, we've moved the ball extremely well at a high rate," according to Eagles Nation on X.
While a statement like this can be useful to motivate the players, when it's this far removed from reality, it can backfire. Suggesting that the Eagles "moved the ball extremely well at a high rate," or that they "have done a good job" is ludicrous and will likely fall flat among the fanbase and the players.
It also lacks accountability. Once a favorite buzzword for Nick Sirianni, accountability has eluded the Eagles coaching staff and players this season. Everyone is expecting to hear identification of the problems and what can be done to fix them. Instead, all we are hearing is how things aren't actually as bad as they seem.
At the same time, one can certainly understand Patullo's attempts to save his job. If things don't improve starting in Week 6, Patullo will likely be the odd man out as the easiest individual to replace in the equation. Since everyone else has remained constant from a season ago, it would make sense to replace the one person who changed from the Super Bowl-winning group. While one can empathize with Patullo's attempts to paint a rosier picture for the Eagles' offense, it may not be enough to save his job. What will save his job is better adjustments, better play-calling, and better chemistry between the players.