Nick Sirianni addresses blame culture after talks with Jalen Hurts, Lane Johnson

The Philadelphia Eagles are navigating unfamiliar territory. The reigning champs suddenly look less like kings of the hill and more like a team searching for a lost map. That Super Bowl swagger has been replaced by a quiet, simmering tension. It’s the kind of atmosphere that can unravel a season. It’s a subtle shift that longtime NFL fans recognize all too well.

The thunderclap arrived. Following a second straight embarrassing loss, veteran leaders began to speak. The dam of internal frustration had officially broken. The Eagles’ locker room, for so long a bastion of confidence, was now the center of the storm.

On October 13, Coach Nick Sirianni addressed the brewing turmoil head-on. He confirmed talks with key players like Jalen Hurts and Lane Johnson. Sirianni stated, “I always value those conversations that we have together. And that’s what I believe that we have as a team that is looking for solutions and not assigning blame.”

This can be seen as a direct response to Johnson’s blunt post-game assessment, where he repeatedly called the offense “predictable” and “stagnant.” But Sirianni’s claim of a culture of “not assigning blame” doesn’t quite stand ground after the plethora of public comments that has come over from veterans like A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Johnson, and even Hurts. Meanwhile, the stat sheet reveals a brutal truth.

The Eagles converted a dismal 1-of-9 third downs against the Giants. They have been outgained in every game this season. Jalen Hurts offered a different view, deflecting the predictability talk by saying, “You don’t look at it that way—not as a quarterback.” And his public shield for the coaching staff highlighted a complex internal dynamic.

A Crossroads in Minneapolis

This brings the Eagles to a critical Week 7 gut check in Minnesota. The Vikings boast the league’s top pass defense. Their defense allows a league-best -0.42 expected points per passing play. Philadelphia’s struggling offense, ranking 21st in the same category, faces its toughest test yet. The path forward is simple but difficult.

The coaching staff must blend its weapons more effectively. Sirianni’s record with extra preparation is strong; his Eagles are 9-3 in games with at least ten days of rest. However, the issues run deeper than a single game plan. The team’s identity, once built on physicality, seems lost.

Leadership is now the ultimate test. It requires harmony between the plays called and the players executing them. The season is far from lost, but there’s no margin for error. As the legendary coach Bear Bryant once said, “When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don’t repeat it.” The Eagles’ character will be defined by their response.