Well, the Philadelphia Eagles are 7-2 and atop the NFC after an uneventful but ultimately successful bout against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10. After neither side scored any points in the first half, the Eagles managed to pull off a 10-7 victory thanks to a missed Packers field goal as time expired.
Still, the win on Monday Night Football just didn't feel good. There are no moral victories -- or losses -- in the NFL, but Philadelphia just isn't playing as well as they are capable of. This has especially been the case on offense, as they can't seem to figure out how to get A.J. Brown consistently involved.
Brown has just as many games this season with 100+ receiving yards as he has games with single-digit receiving yards. DeVonta Smith has seemingly overtaken him for the No. 1 wide receiver role, at least in terms of production, but this is clearly not the best offensive formula for the Eagles.
Seth Joyner didn't mince words about A.J. Brown's involvement in the offense
Legendary linebacker Seth Joyner, who was a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time second-team All-Pro in Philadelphia, made an appearance on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Joyner didn't hold back when talking about Brown's lack of involvement in the offense.
"You cannot throw A.J. Brown two targets for two catches and 13 yards in 60 minutes of football. That is coaching negligence," Joyner said. "Because no other player in the National Football League that's a 1A type of wide receiver gets treated like that."
Joyner is, obviously, correct. There are plenty of teams that have both top-flight wide receivers and an incredible sidekick, but every other team has seemingly figured out how to keep both involved consistently.
Yes, the opposing defense has its best cornerback assigned to Brown, and defensive coordinators often make him a focal point of their game plan. But this has always been the case for Brown, and it is the case for every other wide receiver currently enjoying tons of success. Teams find ways to get their guys open.
Continuing with his rant, Joyner talked about a handful of ways to mix things up for the Eagles' offense. What he said, in effect, was an indictment of the coaching staff and their inability to adjust.
"You get in the lab and creatively find a way. I don't care if you got to take A.J. from the X and put him in the slot, and move Jahan Dotson to the X," Joyner continued. "You figure out a way to move him and get him involved and get him the football."
Nick Sirianni is an offensive-minded head coach, so simply losing Kellen Moore does not explain their lack of answers. Sirianni, Kevin Patullo, and whoever else needs to be in the room must put their heads together and devise a better plan.
Read more: Nick Sirianni wants Eagles to celebrate Packers win (but with clear-cut message)
No longer is the Eagles' success measured by wins and losses, and no longer is their benchmark just making the playoffs. Philadelphia must win in a dominant and sustainable fashion to dispel notions that they are falling off, and if they can't figure out the Brown conundrum, they could fall short this year.