Eagles have seven days to rewrite a season-long narrative of frustration

Nick Sirianni looked tired. Yes, he was under the harsh light, literal and metaphorical, of a press conference after a losing game. His Eagles had just lost to the Commanders, surrendering the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, in large part because Sirianni had decided to rest his starters in advance of the playoffs.

But still, Sirianni looked weary, bearing an expression at the end of the long regular season all too familiar to parents of small children at the end of a long holiday break: Are we done with all this yet? Please?

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The Eagles clinched a playoff berth several weeks ago. And although it seems like forever ago, the Eagles are, in fact, the defending Super Bowl champions. These two facts should make anyone involved with the Eagles organization, as either player or fan, at least mildly optimistic about the next five weeks.

And yet, there’s a pervading sense of doom that’s hung over this franchise all season … and Sunday’s loss to the Commanders put a woeful period on a less-than-inspiring regular season. Yes, the Eagles finished the season 11-6, clinching another division title and nabbing the third seed in the playoffs. But was this the result of the Eagles’ success, or the abject futility of the rest of the NFC East? The Eagles have a chance to answer that question, starting Sunday … though the question got tougher because of what happened in Week 18.

Sirianni’s decision to rest the starters in Sunday’s loss carried significant potential playoff consequences. Thanks to Chicago’s loss to Detroit, Philadelphia would have claimed the No. 2 seed with a win. That No. 2 seed would have given the Eagles a game against the reeling Packers — losers of four straight — rather than the 12-5 49ers, and the added bonus of a guaranteed second home game should they advance. Instead, Philadelphia will play San Francisco, and then — if seeds hold — would need to travel to Chicago for the divisional round.

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To Sirianni, the need for rest was more important than any opponent or future-site hypothetical. “That's your job as a head coach, you have to make tough decisions,” he said after the game. “And that's why half the people are going to agree with it, half the people aren't. Half you guys (in the media) are going to agree with it, half you aren't, and that's OK. But you have to do what you think's best for the football team.”

To hear the fans say it, what’s best for the 2025 Eagles would probably be to put them out of their misery now rather than waiting until the playoffs. The Eagles’ offense has struggled both in the air and on the ground this season. Philadelphia ranks below the league average in total yards per game, passing yards per game, first downs, third- and fourth-down conversion percentage … pick a category, and the Eagles likely underperformed.

Jalen Hurts ranked 16th in the NFL in passing yardage and 12th in passer rating. AJ Brown saw substantial declines in yards per reception and yards per game from his All-Pro 2024 season. Some regression was obviously in the cards for Saquon Barkley, but he dropped from 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2004 to 1,140 and seven touchdowns over the same 16-game period in 2025.

The thinking around Philadelphia is that former OC Kellen Moore took all his offensive genius with him to New Orleans, and replacement Kevin Patullo hasn’t been able to craft a suitably explosive sequel. The result: a team that’s lost to all three of its division rivals despite comfortably claiming a playoff berth over them all.

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Here’s the great thing about the postseason, though: it can power-wash away all blemishes. If Philadelphia is able to make a run — if, thanks to Sunday’s breather, the offense is rested and rejuvenated — then no one will much care about what sports-talk radio callers were screaming about back in October.

The path is still clear here for the Eagles, who face the 49ers on Sunday at 4:30. Philly is a 3.5-point favorite, per BetMGM, even though the 49ers won 12 games in a far more difficult division.

There’s a bit of grim history here for Philadelphia. Back in December 2023, the last time these two teams played, the Eagles came into the game 10-1 and rolling. But San Francisco blew the doors off the Eagles, 42-19, and Philadelphia then went on to lose five of its last six and bow meekly out of the playoffs. This year’s 49er squad is banged up, with key players lost for the year on defense and Brock Purdy rocky after some late-game hits against Seattle.

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The opportunity is there for the Eagles to wash away the lingering stench of this regular season. Hell, they even have the well-worn musical accompaniment all lined up. Now, as the playoffs begin, they just need to remember how to fly.