Philadelphia Eagles fans are fuming over how that game ended, as a costly mistake by head coach Nick Sirianni led to a 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.
Everyone will talk about that decision on the final kickoff to the Jaguars. After Jake Elliott nailed a 48-yard field goal to put the Eagles up by one point, they chose not to kick it out of the end zone or out of bounds, keeping the ball in play. The Jaguars got a massive return, setting up a game-winning field goal and handing the Eagles their third straight loss.
This is one that will stick with the Eagles for a long time, and honestly, it could define the season. Sirianni knew it was a mistake, and now it will put him firmly in the hot seat. That shouldn't be the main reason he is in the hot seat, though.
Nick Sirianni owns kickoff mistake in Eagles' loss to the Jaguars
Sirianni spoke with the media after the game and took full responsibility for the loss. He knew the kickoff decision was not a good one.
"I cost us that game. That one's on me."
I give credit to #Eagles HC Nick Sirianni for admitting his mistake vs the #Jaguars:
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 11, 2026
“I cost us that game. That one’s on me.”
“There’s no way around it … I just didn’t do my job in that situation.”
(📹 @EliotShorrParks)
pic.twitter.com/n6gzwDKAby
In Sirianni's defense, it wasn't the worst decision. If Elliott kicks it out of bounds, the Jaguars get it at the 35-yard line with eight seconds left and can still use one play to get into field goal range. The Dallas Cowboys lost a game that way two weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.
If anything, the Eagles should have squib-kicked the ball so the Jaguars could either run the clock out or at least avoid a long return. That would have been the safest choice and would have given the defense a chance to make the stop, which they were doing for most of the game.
The decisions that really put Nick Sirianni on the hot seat for the Eagles
Two big moments in the game really put Sirianni in the hot seat. One came on the opening offensive drive, and the other on the final offensive drive.
On the first drive of the game, the Eagles faced a fourth-and-one at the Jaguars' 37-yard line. This is in range for Jake Elliott, but the Eagles went for it. They tried to run it with Will Shipley, but he got stuffed. The Eagles ran the ball 18 times for 22 yards, so that was not going to work at any point in the game.
On the final drive, Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon made a seven-yard completion on second-and-10, but he went out of bounds at the Jaguars' 27-yard line with 21 seconds left. If Lemon goes down inbounds before going out of bounds, the Jaguars would have to take their final timeout, and the Eagles could just run it out s the Elliott field goal is the final play of the game.
Sirianni needs to take the blame for that mistake by Lemon because the coaches should have communicated that during practice and on the drive. Lemon is a rookie and was focused on stopping the clock, but situational awareness should fall more on the coaches.
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Now that the Eagles are 2-3 and have a losing record for the first time since 2021, Sirianni's seat is hotter than ever. The Eagles blew two fourth-quarter leads in the last two weeks, so the Eagles' head coach won't be comfortable moving forward. He better get this team on track, or 2026 looks like his final season.
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