Philadelphia’s struggles on that side of the ball became a point of contention all season, highlighted by a defense that was capable of delivering a repeat instead slowly being wasted.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown complained about his role at various points in the season, both through a cryptic post on social media and on a Twitch stream, thereafter refusing to apologize for it. Running back Saquon Barkley spent much of his follow-up season to winning Offensive Player of the Year held in check. He finished nine games below 4.0 yards per carry after doing so just twice the previous campaign. Following their Week 9 bye, the Eagles surpassed 20 points only three times in 10 outings, including the 23-19 wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers that ended their season.
During that loss, Philly started out strong with two touchdown drives in its first three tries, the second being an impressive 94-yard march, but then a familiar malaise set in and boos from the home crowd followed. Of the Eagle’s last seven possessions, the four that ended in punts amounted to a single net yard of offense. Two resulted in field goals, and Philadelphia’s final drive after the 49ers pulled ahead again ended with a turnover on downs just outside the red zone.
The final two quarters and change of futility that doomed the Eagles, coupled with a hard-playing defense that kept a win possible for as long as it could, was an unfortunate microcosm of their season.
Jalen Hurts punted on a question about Patullo’s future at locker cleanout the next day and Barkley noted that someone must end up taking the blame, even if it isn’t fair.
That blame indeed landed squarely on Patullo’s shoulders, which leaves the Eagles looking for their fifth offensive coordinator in five years.
There is, however, reason for optimism.
Despite a trying season, Philadelphia still easily boasts one of the most talented offensive rosters in the NFL. Plus, the last time the Eagles went from a Super Bowl appearance to replacing their OC in the wake of a wild-card disappointment, they rebounded and returned to the game’s biggest stage the following season.
It was there they captured the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.
The question now is if they can do it again.