Philadelphia Eagles: Why Week 6 Is Make or Break for Eagles and Andy Reid

The Philadelphia Eagles are in trouble.

Head coach Andy Reid knows it.  The fans know it.  Heck, even the food vendor serving hot dogs on the streets of Philadelphia knows it.

Which is why something’s gotta give.  In a city that demands excellence from its sports teams, if you don’t win, you don’t have a job.

At 1-4, the Eagles most certainly aren’t winning.

Fortunately, they have a chance to bounce back with a game against a Washington Redskins team that has struggled as of late.

If Coach Reid and his boys want to start bringing smiles to The City of Brotherly Love, this would be the week to do it.  If not, then they could be in a world of trouble.

Juan Castillo’s Reputation is Plummeting

When Andy Reid decided to make Juan Castillo—his long-time offensive line coach—defensive coordinator, both the media and the fans started to scratch their heads in unison. 

But after he showed passion and energy out on the practice field, that confusion slowly started to turn into hope.

That hope is quickly fading.

Even with all the star-studded talent at his disposal, Castillo has allowed his defense to give up to many yards and points.

In particular, the Eagles defense has been abysmal against the run, ranking 30th in rushing yards per game (140.2).  A blind monkey escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo could find his way through the gaping holes left by the defense.

There have been rumors of the Eagles seeking a defensive consultant.  If true, then Castillo’s days may be numbered.

If he has any chance of holding onto his new job, Castillo must provide his team with a dominant defensive game plan against the 3-1 Washington Redskins.

Michael Vick’s Progression is Faltering

For a man who just a few months ago signed a contract worth $100 million, Michael Vick sure hasn’t been playing like it. 

While his 1,654 total yards and eight touchdowns are respectable, they do not match up with the elite quarterbacks in the league.

His biggest problem, however, is turnovers.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times.  The team that wins the turnover battle is the team that wins the game.  That being said, Vick’s seven interceptions and three fumbles help explain the Eagles’ losing record.

Those numbers also might pose a problem for this game, as the Washington Redskins have shown a knack of forcing fumbles this year (eight). 

Many experts were expecting Vick to take a step forward in his progression as a quarterback.  As his turnovers can attest, this has not been the case.

Vick must learn to better protect the football in Week 6 if he wants to finally start proving those experts right.

Andy Reid’s Seat is Burning

In his 12 seasons as head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy Reid has come under his share of heavy scrutiny.

But this year is different.  Never before has his team started a season 1-4.

In typical Andy Reid fashion, the head coach has put the blame squarely on his shoulders and his shoulders alone.  And rightfully so.

Through the first five games of the season, the Eagles have looked slow, unmotivated and desperate.  Multiple times they have gone into the second half of a game leading the scoreboard, only to fall behind and never regain their composure. 

Be it lack of confidence or lack of motivation, this team just doesn’t know how to get back into a game. 

Whatever the reason is, it is up to Reid to fix it and get a win against the Washington Redskins.  If he can’t, then it may be time for the team to start seriously consider looking for their next head coach at season’s end. 

Is it hot in here, or is it just me?  

Fans’ Patience is Dwindling

For fans, this was supposed to be THE season.  The Super Bowl season.

Not only did the team go out and sign high-profile free agents like cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and defensive end Jason Babin, but they also added the great coaching minds of Jim Washburn and Howard Mudd.

Despite the team cautioning against it, the fans bought into the “Dream Team” concept.  So far, that concept has not come into fruition.

Fans witnessed first-hand as their team went from Super Bowl contenders to laughing stock of the NFL. No fan, no matter how dedicated, wants to see that.

The first rule an organization must learn is this: unhappy fans leads to fewer ticket sales which leads to less money.  Fans are clearly unhappy.

So unless the Eagles find a way to win this week, the only thing the team can expect is a drop in ticket sales.

Playoff Chances are Diminishing

Time for a lesson in statistics.

Say a team starts a season 1-4.  And let’s say that, of the 110 other teams to start 1-4 since the adoption of the current playoff format, only five of them made the playoffs that season.  What then is the chance of that first team making the playoffs?

The answer is 4.5 percent.  And that is exactly how likely the Philadelphia Eagles are of making the playoffs this year.  Not since the 2004 Green Bay Packers has a team pulled off a feat like that.

Granted, if there ever was a team with the talent capable of pulling this off it would be the Eagles.

The NFC East is not the dominant division it once was, and so it is not impossible for the team to win eight of its last 11 games and still make the playoffs over the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

To do so, however, they will first need to beat the Redskins this week.  Only then will the road toward the playoffs become a much more manageable path.