Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was the subject of much criticism after the team lost to the Chicago Bears 24-15 on Black Friday, but there might be someone else who deserves just as much blame for the loss.
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith joined the First Take crew to discuss whether the Los Angeles Rams' loss to the Carolina Panthers was worse than the Eagles' loss to the Bears. Smith focused on the Eagles' loss, criticizing defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
"Here's what you all need to know. You understand in these two games that the Eagles have given up 898 yards of offense to the Cowboys and the Bears in the last two games. This is a Vic Fangio defense so we know the problems they got offensively even though A.J. Brown got the ball 10 times, 132 yards, two touchdowns. He was balling, but they were still getting booed at halftime when you turn over the ball on the Tush Push, that's pretty damn bad. But here's the point, we didn't expect their defense to collapse either. We knew about the problems offensively, but to come have Chicago roll up to the site of Lincoln Financial Field, for D'Andre Swift the former Philadelphia Eagles with relatives in attendance running up shawl all over them. For the Chicago Bears to accumulate over 400 yards of offense after the Dallas Cowboys just did it a few days earlier against the Philadelphia Eagles says a lot and it should say a lot, okay? This team is just coming apart at the seams. There's no question about it."
Does Fangio deserve part of the blame for the Eagles' two-game losing streak?
There is some truth to what Smith is saying, as the Eagles' defense has not had much analysis of their play. The offense's poor play has covered it up, and allowing 24 points in each of the last two games has been enough to mask the defensive issues.
The Eagles' defense has allowed over 400 yards in each of the last two games, with the pass defense being bad in the Cowboys game and the run defense being worse in the Bears game. Philly allowed 354 passing yards against Dallas and 281 rushing yards against Chicago.
Part of the problem is the lack of a pass rush that was so good against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in the previous two games. After five sacks and 15 quarterback hits in the Packers and Lions games combined, it has since gone down to three sacks and 12 quarterback hits.
Andrew Mukuba's injury to the secondary is having a bigger effect than some might have expected. Even the reduced role of the other rookie standout on defense, Jihaad Campbell, has left some questions from the Eagles' fan base about what's going on.
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While the offense has struggled more than the defense, Fangio and his unit deserve just as much blame for the team's issues. The one strength of this team has to stay that way if they want any hope of getting back to the Super Bowl.