What 8-1 Eagles must urgently address during bye week
For the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1), Sunday's 28-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys (5-3) defined "winning ugly."
The Eagles got the defensive stop they needed late in the fourth quarter...barely. The Cowboys took over at their own 14 with 46 seconds left and drove deep into Eagles territory before the drive was snuffed out. Philadelphia's mistakes contributed to what could have been an epic failure.
First, cornerback James Bradberry was called for pass interference on wide receiver Michael Gallup, a 36-yard penalty.
After Prescott completed a 10-yard pass to tight end Jake Ferguson, an extra 15 yards were tacked on for a late hit on Prescott by linebacker Haason Reddick.
Prescott then found wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for a 14-yard gain, and in just 23 seconds, Dallas made it from its own 14-yard line to Philadelphia's 11. However, the Eagles finally clamped down by sacking Prescott for an 11-yard loss and stopping Lamb short of the goal line to end the game.
In his news conference afterward, Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni was not asked about his defense allowing 56 yards in penalties on the final drive. Instead, he answered softball questions about "emotions" and "perseverance."
The Eagles head into their bye week with a league-leading record, but their undisciplined and reckless defensive play at the end of Sunday's game is cause for alarm. The defense has come unglued over the past two games.
In Week 8 win on the road against the Commanders, Philadelphia surrendered 31 points to a pedestrian offense. In a Week 4 win at home against Washington, the Eagles also allowed the Commanders 31 points.
The team desperately needs to tighten up on defense and exercise more discipline.
Luckily for the Eagles, they have two weeks before they play again. They'll need all the rest and regrouping they can get before they face Kansas City's dynamic offense on the road on Nov. 20 in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII.
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