Philadelphia Eagles fans once became infamous across the nation for booing Santa Claus during a December 1968 game.
The boos resurfaced 55 years later on Christmas Day. But this time, Kris Kringle was off the hook by Eagles fans. Instead, the jeers were directed loud and clear toward an Eagles team many felt should’ve trounced the New York Giants Monday.
Eagles Legend Seth Joyner Among Those Criticizing 2023 Team
Once up by 17, the Giants still turned it into a game that came down to one final pass into the end zone. Kelee Ringo snatched Tyrod Taylor’s final pass attempt to seal the Eagles’ 33-25 home win.
In the process, Philly snapped its three-game losing skid, which saw the Eagles lose ground in the race for the NFC’s top seed. Still, the critics were out in full force. One of them was an Eagles legend in Seth Joyner.
“For such a talented Eagles team, this has got to be one of the most frustrating teams to watch in all of sports! It is so efficient at times, yet so equally as boneheaded at other times! WOW,” Joyner posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Joyner wasn’t alone in the criticism for Philly. Philadelphia sports analyst Mike Missanelli is another who feels he’s watching a completely different Eagles team than the one that was once 10-1.
“There’s absolutely something missing in this Eagles team right now, and they’re going to get a win, they’ll probably win out and probably get a [No.] 2 seed but we’re not left watching the same team that we’re used to watching,” Missanelli said on JAKIB Sports.
But the harshest critique went toward one member of the Eagles’ coaching staff.
“Fire Brian Johnson” Posts Spread Online
The Eagles’ offense has undergone a transition period with Shane Steichen guiding the Indianapolis Colts — leaving the Philly offense for Brian Johnson.
Eagle fans, though, believe they’ve seen enough out of the 2023 offensive coordinator.
“The Eagles need to fire Brian Johnson. I don’t care how late in the season it is. The Bills fired Ken Dorsey and look like world beaters since,” one fan posted on X.
One more fan account believes the first-year OC isn’t using the talent correctly.
“Just fire Brian Johnson. Don’t wait for the end of the season. He’s wasting one of the most talented offensive units in the league,” the account posted.
One former Eagle, NFL Network personality Brian Baldinger, even questioned the play-calling during one sequence.
.@Eagles dont have any hot reads or sight adjustments v the @Giants blitzes? They are going to keep coming
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 25, 2023
Circling back to Joyner, he too put the play calling on blast.
“Can someone tell me why on earth the Eagles run screens? They absolutely stink at running them!! Geez,” Joyner posted.
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Johnson’s unit was held scoreless in the third quarter, while the Giants outscored Philly 15-0. They then scored 13 during the fourth. The Eagles settled for 465 total yards — their most since the Oct. 8 win over the Los Angeles Rams, when they tallied 454.
How Did Nick Sirianni React to Eagles Squeaking by the Giants?
The head coach Nick Sirianni hasn’t lost three in a row since his rookie season of 2021, which was a September skid. But a collapse against the Giants would’ve handed him his first four-game slide.
The Eagles managed to skate by. But was there more relief than excitement for the head coach?
“Shoot, feels good, right?” Sirianni asked to the media when he was given the question about how it felt to snap the streak. “Obviously, got some things to clean up. But, good energy to get back on the right side of things.”
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“We needed to get out of the funk we were in. And sometimes, it’s by just getting a win. I thought there was a lot of good things out there. But obviously, I have to go back and watch it and have better answers for you.”
But there were the negative things — a la the turnovers — including this one that cut the Eagle lead to two.
Whew. Here we go. A fourth quarter set to begin with the #Giants down by 2 👀pic.twitter.com/MStn38RyCU
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 26, 2023
Sirianni knows there’s things to clean up: “I’m excited to be able to clean those up after getting a win, and getting 11 wins on the year.”
Yes, the Eagles are no longer in the “L” category. But still, their Christmas performance drew jeers and harsh critique for a team once hailed the NFL’s best.
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