The Philadelphia Eagles have been hammered by the Raiders before, but on a much bigger stage. This wasn't Super Bowl XV, but it was a blowout from Las Vegas against the Birds in Week 7.
This loss sends the Eagles to 2-5 after Week 7. It will shut down the idea that Philadelphia has a realistic shot at the NFC playoffs, even with all the mediocrity in the NFC. It is already time to start thinking about the 2022 offseason, for reasons you will soon see.
Eagles Week 7 takeaways
3. 2022 offseason will be a hugely defining one for the franchise
No, it's not too early to start thinking about 2022 for the Eagles after this ugly loss to the Raiders. They know the Miami Dolphins are sinking like a rock in the standings, which means they are in position to get an even better position in the 2022 NFL draft due to their deal with the Dolphins earlier this year.
The Eagles have a chance to stockpile talent in the draft, while also using free agency to radically remake their roster. This roster is widely viewed as ineffective, outdated and overpriced. A massive overhaul is needed, and the incoming first-round picks give Philadelphia a chance to execute such a plan.
The big question and problem: Will Howie Roseman preside over these huge, franchise-changing decisions? He frankly shouldn't, but owner Jeffrey Lurie might allow him to. It's not what Eagles fans want to hear, but the politics of this aren't clear yet. They should be clear, but they aren't.
The Raiders sliced through the Eagles' tissue-soft defense like a knife through warm butter. The offense is a mess. Miles Sanders is hurt. Jalen Hurts doesn't have a strong offensive line. This team and this organization are in tatters. 2022 must replenish the roster, but if Roseman is allowed to preside over the offseason, chances are the Birds won't fly high at any point in the near future. It's a big concern.
Lurie has to sack Roseman and hire a much better GM.
2. Nick Sirianni looks like a bad hire, but this is mostly about what he inherited
No, Nick Sirianni isn't doing a good job with the Eagles. Other coaches are running rings around him right now. The Raiders' interim staff, without Jon Gruden, wiped the floor with Sirianni. However, with a bad team and a terrible roster, no coach is going to look good. You're seeing it in Seattle with Russell Wilson out. One quarterback papered over a lot of weaknesses on a team. Pete Carroll suddenly isn't winning games. Funny how that works.
It's true that the Eagles need better coaching, but with a roster this bad, the 2021 season is mostly on the front office, not the coaching staff. It might not seem important to make that distinction, but look at what the Cincinnati Bengals are doing.
Zac Taylor looked overmatched in his first few seasons with the Bengals, but now that he has a healthy Joe Burrow plus receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati is a good team. Imagine that: Nailing first-round draft picks changes a franchise! The Eagles have a chance to do this. Giving up on Sirianni now is premature. It's about getting the front office — and the draft picks — right.
1. Jonathan Gannon will not be defensive coordinator next season
The head coach hates what the defensive coordinator is doing. A veteran star hates what the defensive coordinator is doing. This will not end well for the defensive coordinator of the Eagles.
Jonathan Gannon is putting a lot of responsibility on the Eagles' linebackers, but that's a position where Roseman has not invested a lot of resources in recent years. There is a clear disconnect between the aims of Gannon's scheme and the strengths of the roster. There is a complete mismatch between management's methods and the coaching staff's tactics. Gannon can't be expected — or allowed — to sort out this problem. He needs to go, and if he's not kicked out in the coming weeks, he certainly won't stay on next season.
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