Eagles Coach Sirianni Confirms Patullo Will Remain Play Caller

In a decisive move, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni announced that offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo will continue to call plays for the team. This statement came during a press conference on Monday, following the Eagles’ disappointing performance against the Dallas Cowboys on December 1, 2023. Sirianni emphasized that he has not considered making any changes to the coaching staff, stating, “No, I haven’t. As coaches, we’re always looking for answers and we’re never into assigning blame.”

The Eagles built an impressive early lead of 21 points against the Cowboys but failed to score during the remainder of the game, ultimately losing 24-21. Over their final eight possessions, the team punted five times, missed a field goal, committed a turnover, and allowed the clock to run out at the end of the first half. This late-game collapse has been a recurring issue for the Eagles’ offense, which has struggled throughout the season.

Sirianni acknowledged the need for improvement across various aspects of the game, stating, “It’s every piece of the puzzle: coaching, playing, execution, scheme, everything. We’ve got to be better in all of those aspects.” He defended Patullo’s play-calling, noting that every coach and player wishes they could have certain plays back. “I thought Kevin did a good job of calling it,” he added.

Reflecting on the game, Sirianni pushed back against the perception that the team became complacent after taking an early lead. “To go up 21-0… you’re trying to do everything you can to go up 28-0,” he explained. “I felt like we were aggressive all game. The execution and play-calling were better in the first half than it was the rest of the time.”

Quarterback Jalen Hurts echoed his coach’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for the team to finish games more effectively. “Overarching, we’ve got to find a way to finish the game, and we’ve got to find some consistency in what we do,” he said. Hurts characterized the game as “a tale of two halves,” indicating that the team’s inability to maintain performance ultimately led to the loss.

As the Eagles prepare for their upcoming game against the Chicago Bears on December 8, they face additional challenges. Rookie safety Andrew Mukuba suffered a fractured ankle during the game against the Cowboys and will require surgery. Sirianni confirmed that Mukuba will be sidelined for an extended period, stating, “He’ll be out for some time and we’ll see. I’ll never put a timetable on a guy.”

In light of Mukuba’s injury, Sirianni mentioned that the team has several capable options to fill the void in the secondary, including Michael Carter II, Sydney Brown, and Reed Blankenship, who is expected to play despite a thigh injury.

The status of cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, who is currently in concussion protocol, remains uncertain as the Eagles look to regroup and enhance their performance ahead of the crucial matchup against the Bears. The Eagles will strive to address their recent shortcomings and reclaim their offensive momentum when they take the field next.

For ongoing updates on the Eagles and their season, follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.