Eagles’ new defensive play-caller takes blame for last-minute collapse

After the Philadelphia Eagles lost their third-straight game, Matt Patricia took the blame for the ‘Monday Night Football’ late breakdown against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Philadelphia defense came into the Monday night matchup in a funk, and tried to make a change by stripping defensive coordinator Sean Desai of his play calling duties, and giving the assignment to senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia. Ultimately, it didn’t work, as Seattle went 92 yards in 10 plays in the final minutes of the game to take the lead and eventually win.

Several players, including Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce, have taken accountability for the loss. But after Philadelphia’s defense was ripped apart in that game-winning drive, Patricia is taking responsibility for the defeat.

‘That drive starts with me,’ Patricia told reporters Thursday. ‘I got to do a better job to get them in position to get us off the field and obviously, help us win.’

The defensive play caller also dove into what happened during Seattle’s game winning drive, which was capped by Drew Lock throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

‘During the course of that drive, there’s probably a couple plays in there and calls and coverages, things that we’re mixing that you know, that you look at, I’m like, OK this was good. And then, maybe a play before that, there was a call that maybe on that last play would have been better,’ Patricia added. ‘Obviously wish I hadn’t, wish I had another call in that situation.’

Matt Patricia opens up on relationship with Darius Slay

When Patricia was hired by the Eagles in the spring, NFL fans were curious to see how things would work with cornerback Darius Slay, who had aired out issues with Patricia that arose when the coach led the Detroit Lions.

Slay told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, in 2020 he did not respect Patricia after an incident between the two during Patricia’s first season as head coach in 2018. He also made comments on social media when Patricia was fired by Detroit in 2020.

In June, Slay told the Free Press the relationship with the two had been ‘cordial,’ but Patricia said Thursday their relationship has been great, noting he gave Slay ‘a big hug’ before his press conference. He also mentioned the ‘unbelievable relationship’ he has with Slay.

‘He’s helped me a lot. In the spring, just kind of getting acclimated and just talking,’ Patricia said. ‘Out there with arms open and trying to help me kind of fit in and feel comfortable. Which really, I’m very grateful to him for.

‘As you go through life and you grow and you learn, and hopefully improve and get better as a person. From me personally, where I was whatever that was, I’m just trying to be a better person every day and I’m just really thankful to him for that.’