On Monday afternoon, Nick Sirianni confirmed that the Eagles are moving forward with Matt Patricia as their de facto defensive coordinator and play-caller. However, it appears Sirianni doesn’t have much of a choice at this point. Despite the decision to demote Sean Desai and replace him with Patricia, the switch has not yielded the desired improvement in the Eagles’ defense over the past three games.
In response to questions about the move, Sirianni expressed that he does not regret the decision, emphasizing that every choice he makes is with the team’s best interests in mind. Despite the team’s ongoing defensive struggles, Sirianni remains committed to the adjustments made a few weeks ago.
However, there is a suggestion that Sirianni might regret the decision, as the move to change defensive coordinators seemed more like a desperate measure than a well-thought-out strategy. The result is a defense that is still struggling, players who are struggling to adapt, a play-caller who isn’t devising his own defensive strategies, and two interim defensive coordinators heading into the playoffs with uncertain outcomes.
The decision to make Desai a scapegoat has not yielded improved results, and the Eagles find themselves in a situation where they have to hope for defensive improvement. Despite the potential return of key players for the playoffs, the team is entering Week 18 off the worst loss of the Sirianni Era.
Under Patricia, the Eagles’ defense has shown signs of strength in first halves but has struggled significantly in the second half of games. This was evident in the recent loss to the Cardinals, where the defense allowed 29 second-half points.
Comparatively, Desai’s defense, while allowing more points per game, showed an ability to adjust during games, posting better second-half performances in several instances. The overall defensive performance, however, remains subpar, with Patricia’s defense allowing more points on average than Desai’s.
Despite concerns about Sirianni’s future amid the late-season collapse, it seems unlikely that the Eagles would part ways with him, given the team’s recent playoff appearances. However, it is clear that a new defensive coordinator will be a crucial hire for Sirianni in the offseason, potentially shaping the team’s future defensive strategies.
