Biggest Takeaways from Philadelphia Eagles' Week 11 Loss

The Philadelphia Eagles may be 4-6, but up until Sunday, they had been in every game they played this season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers put that talk to rest for them with a dominant 45-17 victory that was almost never close.

Now the Eagles appear to be on the brink of total collapse, and questions are being asked of head coach Chip Kelly. Has he lost the locker room? Are the players still listening to his message? Do they have the fortitude not to quit?

Can the Eagles turn this around?

I'm not the type to accuse most professional athletes of quitting, nor am I one to think Kelly's job is in jeopardy or that he's dying to jump back to the ranks of college football. Then again, if there was only one takeaway from their Week 11 loss, it's that the Eagles are clearly at a crossroads in the 2015 season—and perhaps in Kelly's tenure.

That and more as we take a closer look at the ugly loss.

Mark Sanchez Not the Answer

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There were observers who felt that it was time for the Eagles to make the switch at quarterback from Sam Bradford to Mark Sanchez. There were people who felt after Bradford went down with an injury that Sanchez might be a better fit.

Those people, not surprisingly, were proved mistaken on Sunday.

While the jury is still out on Bradford, Sanchez did exactly what we've come to expect from Sanchez. The seventh-year veteran threw three costly interceptions, which has been a calling card of his throughout his NFL career.

Sanchez is a known quantity. He's a decent backup or game manager on a team with an elite defense. There's nothing more to see here. So whenever Bradford is healthy enough to get back on the field and play, it's time to see his development continue, because he was actually starting to make some strides before the the injury.

Run Defense Is Broken

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Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) runs with the ball as Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Brandon Graham (55) tackles from behind during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. The Buccaneers

No matter who was under center or whether the defensive secondary was struggling, the one thing the Eagles had always been able to pride themselves for during the Kelly era was their run defense. All of a sudden, they don't even have that.

Not only did the Eagles allow a 100-yard rusher for the third time in four weeks, but they allowed a 200-yard rusher on Sunday. Doug Martin carried 27 times for a staggering 235 yards and 8.7 average, part of a 283-yard day on the ground for the Bucs.

In the last four weeks, the Eagles have allowed 720 total yards on the ground, or 180 per game. Opponents are exerting their will and running at will on this defense, and it's hard to say why exactly. All we know for sure is it's broken and getting worse by the week.

Injuries Taking Their Toll

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Eagles DE Vinny Curry

If the Eagles are having trouble in any phase of the game, you can almost rest assured there's an injury somewhere hampering things. We already touched on the injury to Bradford, forcing Sanchez to take the reins on offense. Perhaps the issue on run defense has a little bit to do with the season-ending injury to linebacker Jordan Hicks as well.

Losses along the offensive line have forced reserves Matt Tobin and Dennis Kelly to take on bigger roles and start games. First-round rookie receiver Nelson Agholor missed time, hampering his development. Ryan Mathews didn't dress on Sunday, while tight end Zach Ertz and defensive end Vinny Curry were knocked out of action mid-game.

We could go on, but the long and short of it is the injuries are beginning to mount for the Eagles. Every team must deal with it, but not all have the depth in the right areas to overcome it. This roster is being stretched thin, and we may be seeing the result of that on the field.

Give the Opponent Credit

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Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston

As poorly as the Eagles played on Sunday, sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the opponent as well. The Bucs are an improving squad with an offense that's looking increasingly legit, led by No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston.

Winston has really started coming into his own as the quarterback and leader for the Bucs over the past month, and great weapons surround him. Martin is a Pro Bowl back, while Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson are a pair of 6'5" matchup nightmares at wide receiver who would make any passer's job easier.

The Eagles caught the Bucs at the exact wrong time. Philadelphia is banged up and on the slide, while Tampa Bay is ascending.

The Eagles have their share of problems to fix, but give the Bucs credit for being a better team than many imagined they would be when the schedule released.

Eagles Hit New Low Under Chip Kelly

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There have been plenty of rough patches during Kelly's three-year tenure as Eagles head coach. That being said, none have been as bad as this. Not one loss has been as brutal and completely lopsided as Sunday's home loss to Tampa Bay.

There isn't a game under Kelly where both the offense and defense were completely dominated like what happened with the Bucs. And there was never a time when the Eagles seemed further away from fielding a contender as they do now at 4-6, in Kelly's first season in full control of personnel.

Even if the Eagles somehow make the playoffs in a weak NFC East, it's going to be difficult to convince people this season isn't a lost cause. The team plays too flat too often and inspires no confidence. Even worse, Philadelphia demonstrates little capacity for improvement.

It can be hard to keep an open mind when a team is losing as often and in the manner the Eagles are. Maybe they can turn things around—if not this season, then next. Right now, however, it feels as if the Kelly era has hit a new low.