Nick Sirianni catches a lot of heat.

Sometimes it’s unwarranted, and other occasions very well deserved. 

Sunday was the latter. 

The Eagles edged out the Jaguars 28-23 after leading 22-0 early in the third quarter. The 2-7 Jaguars almost came back, but an incredible Nakobe Dean interception in the end zone saved what could have been a devastating and embarrassing defeat at home aginst Eagles’ former and Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson. 

The Eagles (or Sirianni) really tried to squander a 22-point lead, but luckily the Eagles (or Sirianni) didn’t. But if the Eagles did, it would have been one of the worst losses in the Sirianni era. There would be no way to defend him, even though I do try to defend him at times, but Sunday would not have been one of those instances.

However, as much as a hero Dean was, the win should have been sealed long before he intercepted Trevor Lawrence’s pass. As much as that moment was relieving for fans and players after that close victory, that situation could have and should have been avoided.

Dean did not just save the game with that interception, he may have saved Sirianni from an enormous backlash stemming from his pure incompetence. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith also saved coach Siranni from utter embarrassment with their acrobatic plays and contributions. Jalen Hurts played yet another great game, his fourth week without a turnover and a stellar 132.2 passer rating. He threw for 230 yards with two touchdowns. He is running around and making plays again. Hurts looks way better than he did at the end of last year. His 18-yard TD run was his longest since a 22-yard TD in 2022. The players stepped up, but the coach put them in position to fail.

Nine points were left on the board Sunday. 

With 4 minutes, 55 remaining in the second quarter and at the Jaguars’ 22-yard-line, Hurts threw a 3-yard pass to Grant Calcaterra, setting up a fourth-and-3. The Eagles were leading 10-0 and Jake Elliott most likely would have nailed a 39-yard field goal. Sirianni decided to go for it, and it failed.

It could have been 13-0… 

Two offensive drives later, Barkley rushed for a 19-yard TD to extend the lead to 16-0. At that point, you would assume an extra-point attempt was coming with such a nice lead. Well, not with Sirianni. The Eagles went for the two points and it failed. 

Factoring in not going for a field goal earlier, it could have been 20-0.

Hurts rushed for an 18-yard TD in the third quarter to extend the lead to 22-0. So, OK, Sirianni has to just take the easy point there, right? Well, I thought so, but again the Eagles went for the two-point play, and again it failed. Five points were given away at that point. The Eagles could have had a 27-0 lead, as long as everything worked out. 

With under two minutes left in the third quarter, the Eagles faced a fourth-and-1 at the Jaguars’ 25. Elliott was again left on the bench, and the Eagles again failed to convert. Had Sirianni gone for the field goal, the score could have been 30-16 at that point (again, assuming no missed FGs or extra points). I watched this game and thought, “Why do we even pay Elliott if you won’t use him.” And when Sirianni finally did, Elliott missed. Granted it was 57 yards, but I bet all the times he was neglected, Elliott probably wasn’t 100% confident there… why should he be when his coach shows no confidence in him. 

With 7:43 remaining in the game, and on third-and-22, Hurts threw a TD pass to Smith, who made a one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone with Rnald Darblr draped on him. He somehow, some way dragged both feet in bounds just inches away from the back of the end zone. 

That was unbelievable and nothing short of amazing. 

But it also was a pivotal moment in the game as it gave the Eagles a 28-16 lead. But, again, Sirianni went for two points. That I can kind of get because having 30 points would have made it a 14-point game. Still, it was another point off the board. That TD could have made it 37-16.

That would have been the game.

Lawrence would have never had the opportunity to go down the field, trailing 28-23, and have a shot to possibly win the game. Again, thank goodness for Dean, because the Jaguars were driving. It was scary there. Too many points were left on the board, and it seems like this is becoming a routine for Sirianni. It should have never been that close, granted one Jags TD was a gift from the NFL.

Let’s pause on the Sirianni stiff and talk about that outrageous and egregious call. 

Late in the third quarter, Barkley “fumbled” the ball and Travon Walker recovered it and scored. On the replay, Barkley was clearly tripped by the Jaguars’ Ventrell Miller and his forearm hit the ground before the ball came out. He was down. By LEAGUE RULES, Barkley was down.

But the refs reviewed it and upheld their horrible ruling. I have seen those types of plays all the time where they are reversed, or vice versa, after the replay showed clear and concise evidence like that. Those refs should be ashamed and embarrassed for allowing that to happen. The Jaguars made the two-point play after that, so that’s eight points they should have never had. 

But Barkley just keeps getting better each week. He rushed for 159 yards with a TD. He added 40 receiving yards and a score. And what about his backwards leap? Are you kidding? How?? Just how???? A mind-blowing play from a min-blowing player. I still can’t believe the Giants let him walk. 

His TD was set up by a great interception by Zach Baun, who also had 10 tackles and two pass breakups. He has been playing well this season, especially on Sunday. Josh Sweat added five tackles and led the team with two sacks. 

Again… the players stepped up BIG TIME!

Sirianni, well, not so much. 

He is finding ways to lose games, but the players aren’t.

That is not sustainable though, especially with Washington and Baltimore on the horizon. 

The Eagles are 6-2 and a half-game out of the NFC East lead and easily in the playoff picture. They are 6-2 or better for three consecutive seasons, the first time since the 1979 to 1981 seasons. 

These poor decisions could be the Eagles’ (or Sirianni’s) downfall. Again, I like Sirianni. I think he’s a passionate coach who truly cares and wants to win. But leaving nine points on the board could have proven costly. The Eagles are in trouble if he keeps making poor decisions in key moments, and that would be a complete shame with the spot the Eagles are in. They are a good team and could make a deep playoff run, but not if Sirianni’s incompetence keeps getting in the way.