Anthony DiBona
Frustrated. That’s the word most fans of the Philadelphia Eagles would use right now to describe how they feel after last night’s loss to the Carolina Panthers. Once again, the defense played well and the offense failed to show up. It’s like clockwork now. Who would have thought a team led by “offensive genius” Chip Kelly would be in such a scenario? Not me, that’s for damn sure.
But last night, there was a new chapter added to Philadelphia’s season-long offensive struggle. No longer was it all Sam Bradford’s fault, he actually played reasonably well. Yet there were anywhere from seven to eight dropped passes throughout the night, including a would-be touchdown pass that went right through the hands of Josh Huff. Jordan Matthews also failed to get his second foot down on another touchdown pass as well.
The running game was working all night long…at least it was when Ryan Mathews had the ball in his hands. Which brings me to my biggest takeaway from last night’s game, is Charles “Chip” Kelly really in charge of the offense?
I know he gives the media that lame “Oh, Duce Staley chooses which running backs are in the game” excuse but I’m not buying it. At some point, Kelly has to grow a pair and make a decision or two on his own. There’s no reason why Mathews received only six carries last night while Murray received 18, it just doesn’t make sense.
As we all know, Kelly gained full control of the team during the offseason. He wanted to decide who the team signs in free agency, selects in the draft, cuts before the regular season starts, etc. But he doesn’t want to step up and make an obvious decision when a real game is on the line?
Just look at these stats from last night, according to ESPN.com. How in the world does Kelly not go up to Staley and tell him that Mathews should be in the game over Murray?
Yet this whole Mathews’ debacle wasn’t the only costly mistake that Kelly made last night. Three minutes into the fourth quarter, the Eagles burn a timeout on third and 9 in Panthers’ territory. On the drive, Bradford was finally completing some throws across the middle of the field, specifically to Miles Austin and Zach Ertz.
So what does Kelly do? Out of the timeout, he calls a screen play to Josh Huff that goes absolutely nowhere. That forces the Eagles to send out shaky kicker Caleb Sturgis to kick a 50-yard field and sure enough, he misses wide left. Although one interesting note about this kick came after the game from Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos, via Twitter:
The miss from 50 was my fault. I rushed the snap before Donnie & @CalebSturgis1 were ready. Kills me to let them 2 down. You 2 played well.
— Sash DIMENSIONALS (@JonDorenbos) October 26, 2015
Either way, it was a poor call by Kelly once again. It seems like whenever a player is starting to get on a roll or something seems like it’s starting to work, Kelly stops doing it. Mathews runs 63 yards for a touchdown…and he only received one carry after that. Bradford was finally making some throws down the field and Kelly dials up an obvious screen on third and long.
So once again the Eagles found themselves in a similar situation, on the losing end of a certainly winnable game. Luckily they’re heading into a bye week and safety Malcolm Jenkins feels like it’s a perfect time for both the players and coaches to reevaluate themselves, according to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com:
"We need to start taking a hard look at ourselves from a coaching standpoint and a players standpoint." My story: https://t.co/pZSHAy7BSV
— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) October 26, 2015
That’s all for my recap of the Eagles embarrassing, mistake-filled loss to the Panthers. Now the team will have a much needed week off before returning to action against the Dallas Cowboys. Be sure to check back here at Philly Influencer for everything and anything going on in the City of Brotherly Love!