Time to close the book on a disappointing season
The end is near for the Eagles, who will play for each other and outgoing defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in their regular season finale here Sunday (8:20 p.m., NBC, WIP 94.1FM) against the Washington Football Team.
Schwartz has made it known he is taking the 2021 season off after a lengthy NFL coaching career, the last five years with the Eagles.
Head coach Doug Pederson, who has said he “fully expects to be back,” is likely to fulfill that expectation per ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Pederson has a meeting Tuesday with owner Jeffrey Lurie, per Mortensen. That almost certainly will spell out the expectations for Pederson, including the status of veteran quarterback Carson Wentz, who he benched in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts.
Eliminated from playoff contention, the Eagles (4-101) aren’t taking any chances with their banged-up starters, although that leaves Hurts leading an offense full of young players.
The WFT (6-9), on the other hand, can clinch its first NFC East title since 2015 with a victory over the Eagles. If Washington loses, the winner of the 1 p.m. matinee between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys captures the division pennant and a home game in the first round of the playoffs, which have been expanded from six to seven teams.
Schwartz stepping away is only the beginning of an offseason of change for the Eagles. Despite the reports stating he was expected to be back, Pederson knows how quickly that could change.
Just days after the Eagles
were eliminated in the playoffs last season, Pederson said offensive coordinator Mike Groh would be retained, only to see his righthand man fired.
If Washington clinches the division at the Linc, it will add to the Eagles worst season since Andy Reid was fired after losing double-digit games in 2012.
Hurts has lost two straight starts – both on the road - after beating the New Orleans Saints in his starting debut. He won’t have injured running back Miles Sanders, receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery, and tight end Dallas Goedert. Brett Toth will get his first start on the injury riddled offensive line.
“I’ve always had a standard for myself and the things that I do,” said Hurts, who has four touchdown passes, two interceptions and a rushing touchdown. “And I think the mentality, what we’re trying to do is we just want to end it on a high note. That’s where my head is. End it off the right way. Have some pride. Have some pride, go out there and play this game, have some passion, show some passion go out there and let it hang. Let it hang, go out there and play and let’s get it done.”
Thirty-six-year-old quarterback Alex Smith (calf), wide receiver Terry McLaurin (ankle) and running back Antonio Gibson (toe) all are questionable for the WFT. The club is 4-2 with Smith at quarterback.
If Smith cannot get through the game, the backup is Taylor Heinicke out of Old Dominion University.
Meanwhile the Cowboys (6-9) and the Giants (5-10) will go toe-to-toe at MetLife Stadium in North Jersey.
The Cowboys have won three straight games with quarterback Andy Dalton throwing seven TD’s and just one interception.
Giants QBs Daniel Jones (ankle) and Colt McCoy have combined to throw just two TD’s over the past six games.
The only real drama for some Eagles fans is where their team drafts after this disaster of a season. The Eagles could select as high as No. 3, or as low as 10. An Eagles loss combined with victories by Houston, Atlanta and Cincinnati and the Eagles would be in the top three.
For young players like safety Marcus Epps, it’s one last chance to make an impression on their employer and the others out there.
“I think it will be a great opportunity for all of us to to go out there, put some film out there,” Epps said. “We want to finish on a high note. We know we’re not going to the playoffs but you found out who really loves football in times like these.”