That NFC Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers might be one of the most bitter-tasting pills Philadelphia Eagles fans had to swallow all season.
It was another classic example of the offense failing the defense, collecting under 120 yards and six points, and going three-and-out three times in the second half to lose the game. While on ESPN's First Take, the network's top star, Stephen A. Smith, was ruthless in his criticism of the Eagles after that playoff performance and the season in general.
"I would say the biggest thing is what we've been talking about all season long with the Philadelphia Eagles," Smith said via Sports Illustrated. "The inconsistency. Just how transparent and predictable their offense is. I'm going to make a prediction right now on First Take to start the show. There will be a new offensive coordinator named in Philadelphia next season. It's the worst-kept secret in the National Football League."
"The Philadelphia Eagles deserved to lose this game. They deserve to be home because they never made amends for the errors that they were suffering from all season long."
Stephen A. Smith won't get any notes from the Eagles' fan base
Every Eagles fan feels the same way, and the frustration centers on offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who never improved during the season. The offense always seemed to be bad in the second half after good starts and couldn't get into a rhythm.
Patullo's play-calling was bland and predictable, while the players simply did not execute the plays. There is a lot of blame to go around with the offense, but Patullo is the ringleader and the one who deserves most of it.
Entering the offseason earlier than expected, ESPN's Adam Schefter already reported that there are going to be big changes coming to the offensive staff. Expect most of the staff to take a hit on their jobs, including Patullo.
Read more: Dan Orlovsky's vicious takedown of Eagles offense isn't good for Kevin Patullo
It's nowhere close to the results Eagles fans wanted from an offense that finished in the bottom 15 in every offensive category, but the good news is that Philly is close to being rid of the nightmare Patullo brought to the city. The next step now is to get rid of Patullo and rebuild this offensive staff from scratch so that the Eagles can get back to the Super Bowl in 2026.