The sigh of relief in Philadelphia didn’t last long. Less than 24 hours after snapping a three-game losing streak with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Eagles were already back in the building, shifting their focus to a short week and a divisional matchup against the Washington Commanders. It’s the first of two meetings between the NFC East rivals in a three-week span - and there’s no time to dwell on the past.
That’s life in the NFL. The schedule doesn’t slow down, and neither do the media obligations. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo held his weekly press conference, fielding the usual questions about Jalen Hurts, offensive rhythm, and the ongoing evolution of the Eagles’ scheme - particularly the balance between shotgun and under-center looks.
For Patullo, this season has brought more than its fair share of scrutiny. From play-calling critiques to personal incidents - including his home being vandalized - it’s been a turbulent ride. But after one of the Eagles’ most complete offensive performances of the year, there was finally a moment to reflect on what went right.
“When you look at it, it’s just working through things over time,” Patullo said. “You get to a point where you’ve repped something enough in practice and say, ‘Okay, this is ready for game action.’”
That patience paid off on Sunday. The Eagles stayed on schedule, avoided the costly first-down penalties that had plagued them in recent weeks, and consistently found themselves in manageable third-down situations.
That’s been a key issue all season - too many drives derailed by negative plays early in the series. Against the Raiders, the script flipped.
The offense stayed ahead of the chains, and the results followed.
It wasn’t just the offense feeling the momentum. The entire building seemed to breathe easier.
On the defensive side, the support has never wavered - at least not publicly. Players and coaches have echoed the same message throughout the season: this is a team game, and we’ve got each other’s backs.
That unity showed up again in Week 15, when the defense pitched a shutout and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made a point to credit the offense’s role in the win. Complementary football - the holy grail for any coaching staff - was finally on display.
Patullo, for his part, emphasized the importance of continuing to build on that foundation.
“As you go through the season, you’re always trying to put your best foot forward, especially as you get into the later weeks,” he said. “That’s where we’re at right now.
We’ve got to keep building on what we’ve done - from the Chargers game to this one - and keep pushing. There’s still room to grow.”
That’s the key phrase: room to grow. Because while the win over the Raiders was a step in the right direction, it’s fair to ask whether the Eagles truly fixed something or simply took advantage of a struggling opponent. That answer may not come this week, either, with Washington dealing with a rash of injuries.
Still, wins are hard to come by in this league. No matter the opponent, stacking victories matters - especially in December. And for a team that had been searching for answers, it’s okay to take a moment and acknowledge progress.
Patullo did just that. Briefly.
Now, it’s back to business. Another game looms - this one on a Saturday - and the margin for error in the NFC playoff race is razor-thin.
The Eagles found something last week. Whether it was a spark or a turning point, we’re about to find out.