After the Eagles’ tough loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, everyone raised their eyebrow at the Eagles’ defense falling apart when it mattered most. The tables turned around in the fourth quarter when the Birds had a lead, but it quickly slipped away as Kirk Cousins took full advantage of their defensive breakdowns. While everyone is criticizing the Iggles, Jason Kelce has a warning for the team!

The former Eagles center pointed out how the defensive line just couldn’t contain Cousins, especially on that final drive. Jason Kelce said, “If you’re not successful on first and second down in this league, you’re not going to get the opportunities to get the sacks.” Those important mistakes ended up costing them the game, and it’s something they might need to address moving forward.

No doubt, the alarm bells are ringing. It’s been two straight weeks where they have struggled to put any real pressure on the quarterback. And that is what the Super Bowl Champion is concerned about. Kelce stated, “They’ve struggled to get after the passer for two weeks now. ”

With such an embarrassing defeat at home, the finger has been pointed at defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Former NFL scout John Middlekauff mentioned that the Eagles are paying Fangio $5 million for the defense job. And frankly, Fangio’s soft coverages weren’t cutting it, especially with the defensive line struggling. The analyst also noted that head coach Nick Sirianni isn’t completely off the hook either. According to Middlekauff, approving that third-down pass was a significant mistake.

He added, “That’s a devastating loss for the Eagles … I don’t think it gets much worse.” He believes that sometimes, you’ve got to slow things down and play it safe. The risk wasn’t worth it, and it came back to bite them hard. And yes, everyone could feel it immediately. With all the criticism and talk about the defeat, what’s going on inside the Eagles’ locker room?

Jason Kelce sounds the alarm, but Saquon Barkley’s ready to bounce back after a costly drop

Saquon Barkley isn’t dwelling on his mistake. After a crucial drop in the fourth quarter during the Eagles’ 22-21 loss to the Falcons, Barkley stood at his locker and took full responsibility. He said, “I dropped the ball, let my team down today. Shouldn’t have put the defense in that position, make that catch, and the game’s over.” But after owning up to his mistakes, the running back has already moved on.

“I’m over it,” the Eagles player said with his focus on their next game against the Saints. He even admitted that it was just one moment in an otherwise solid performance. “I ran the ball well, my pass protection was good. Sometimes, it comes down to one play,” the Ground NFL Player of the Year added.

The running back’s mindset is clear—mistakes happen, but it’s how you bounce back that counts. With 116 scrimmage yards on 26 touches against the Falcons, he’s proven to be a key player. In fact, his 248 total yards over the first two games rank him seventh in the NFL. Now that’s impressive!

It looks like one drop isn’t going to shake the Eagles’ faith in the running back. His teammates were quick to show their support, and Barkley appreciated it. “Offense, defense, coaches—they all had my back,” he shared. The AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is looking forward to the next time he’s in that pressure situation. The Eagles player believes he’ll make the play confidently next time!

Saquon Barkley’s attitude is simple: own your mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Every player has good and bad days, and it was just a rough game for the running back. However, even after the defeat, the Phillies still have a 73% chance of making the playoffs. Let’s see if the team takes Jason Kelce’s warning to heart and how they perform on Sunday!