Eagles Try to Reset After Overtime Loss - And the End of the "Positivity Rabbit" Era
In a season that’s been anything but predictable, the Philadelphia Eagles tried something… different heading into their Monday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Inside the walls of the NovaCare Complex, an inflatable “Positivity Rabbit” made its debut - a towering, cartoonish symbol meant to lighten the mood and remind the reigning Super Bowl champs to stay loose, stay together, and maybe have a little fun along the way.
But football games aren’t won by inflatable mascots, and the Eagles' performance on the field told a very different story. Five turnovers, including a red zone interception in overtime, sealed a frustrating loss and left more questions than answers about where this team is headed.
By Wednesday, the rabbit was gone. Deflated.
Packed up. Possibly never to return.
And with it, the short-lived "Positivity Rabbit era" came to an unceremonious end.
But while the locker room gimmicks may be over, head coach Nick Sirianni is far from throwing in the towel. Speaking to reporters midweek, Sirianni emphasized that the team’s focus now has to be less about vibes and more about execution.
“I think Sunday is about being locked into what you’re doing,” Sirianni said. “Not that Monday or Tuesday aren’t, but everybody’s in a routine on the sideline, right? It’s like a free throw - you want to go through the same process every time between series.”
It’s a telling analogy, especially for a team that’s been searching for rhythm. The Eagles have looked out of sync in recent weeks, and Sirianni knows it’s not just about staying positive - it’s about staying locked in when things aren’t going your way.
“There’s a difference between being completely focused and locked in when it’s not going well,” he added. “The vibe might not be as high when it’s not going well. I think that’s human nature.”
And he’s right. No team is going to be high-fiving after a three-and-out or celebrating a drive that ends in a punt. But Sirianni’s message is clear: emotion follows execution, not the other way around.
“[Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland] always says, ‘Execution fuels emotion,’” Sirianni noted. “What we’re focused on is executing. We’re focused on trying to get them in the right positions to succeed and go from there.”
So yes, the rabbit is gone. But for Sirianni and the Eagles, the real challenge is far more grounded: can they clean up the turnovers, tighten the execution, and find the spark that carried them to a Super Bowl just months ago?
The locker room might not be as playful these days, but that doesn’t mean the belief is gone. There’s still time to turn things around - but the margin for error is shrinking fast.
We’ll find out soon enough whether the Eagles can get back on track, or if the post-championship hangover lingers into a disappointing December. One thing’s for sure: from here on out, the vibes will have to come from the scoreboard - not a six-foot inflatable bunny.