In a Black Friday nightmare that has sent shockwaves through the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles’ once-unassailable season unraveled in spectacular fashion during a humiliating 24-15 home loss to the Chicago Bears.
What began as a routine divisional clash at Lincoln Financial Field devolved into a chaotic spectacle of poor execution, defensive collapse, and simmering locker room tensions that threaten to derail the reigning Super Bowl champions’ playoff aspirations.
Just days after squandering a 21-0 lead against the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles now sit at 8-4, clinging to first place in the NFC East by a thread, while whispers of internal discord grow louder than the boos from a disillusioned fanbase.
The game itself was a masterclass in Bears dominance, powered by a ground-and-pound rushing attack that exposed Philadelphia’s vaunted defense like never before.
Chicago’s duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for 255 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first time since 1985 that the Bears had two 100-yard rushers in a single game.
Swift bulldozed through gaps for 125 yards, including a gritty 4-yard score in the second quarter, while Monangai’s 130 yards featured a dagger of a 31-yard burst that set up his own touchdown plunge.
Rookie head coach Ben Johnson’s squad racked up 281 rushing yards overall, controlling the clock and dictating terms against an Eagles front seven that entered the day allowing just 98 yards per game on the ground.
“We’re for real,” Johnson declared postgame, his words echoing in a jubilant Bears locker room where he celebrated shirtless, flexing amid chants and dances that contrasted sharply with the somber mood in Philly.
For the Eagles, the defeat was a symphony of miscues that amplified their midseason slide.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, the heartbeat of last year’s championship run, looked mortal under pressure, completing 22 of 35 passes for 218 yards, two touchdowns, and a critical interception—his second of the season—flung into the arms of Bears safety Kevin Byard late in the third quarter.
Even the signature “tush push” play, a Philly staple that converted 95 percent of attempts in 2024, betrayed them when Hurts fumbled deep in Chicago territory, gifting the Bears prime field position. Wide receiver A.J.
Brown salvaged some pride with 132 receiving yards and two scores, including a 33-yard laser from Hurts that briefly pulled the Eagles within one point at 10-9. But momentum evaporated as Chicago responded with back-to-back touchdown drives, leaving Philadelphia chasing shadows.
The real implosion, however, unfolded off the field. Eyewitness accounts from sideline reporters and team insiders paint a picture of a locker room teetering on the brink of mutiny. As players filed in postgame, heated exchanges escalated into a full-blown brawl near the equipment area.
Sources close to the team describe Hurts at the center of the fray, shoving aside veteran linebacker Nakobe Dean after a profane outburst over defensive lapses that left the offense perpetually playing catch-up.
Punches were thrown—allegedly including a wild swing from running back Saquon Barkley aimed at offensive lineman Jordan Mailata—amid shouts of “This is on us!” and “We’re soft!” The skirmish, lasting nearly two minutes, required intervention from strength coaches and security before order was restored.
One anonymous player likened it to “a powder keg finally blowing,” citing weeks of frustration over an offense averaging a measly 15.5 points over its last four games.
Fans, already chanting “Fire Kevin!”—a pointed jab at beleaguered offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo—during the game’s waning moments, flooded social media with calls for sweeping changes, amplifying the sense of a franchise in freefall.
Stepping into the postgame press conference, Hurts appeared haunted, his usual poise cracked under the weight of the loss. Flanked by microphones in a dimly lit media room, he stared at his notes before delivering a cryptic message that sent ripples across the league.
“Sometimes, the path forward means stepping away to find your fire again,” Hurts said, his voice low and measured. “I’ve given everything here, but when the spark fades and the fight turns inward…
well, a man has to know when to reload elsewhere.” The words hung heavy, interpreted by analysts as a thinly veiled request for a trade or release.
Hurts, who signed a five-year, $255 million extension last offseason, elaborated vaguely on his “poor performance” tonight—marked by the fumble and a stalled third-down conversion rate of just 25 percent—while alluding to the locker room scuffle without naming names.
“Brothers clash when the vision blurs,” he added, pausing to sip water.
“But loyalty only goes so far if we’re not building toward something real.” Teammates like Brown and tight end Dallas Goedert offered tepid support in their own interviews, but the damage was done: Hurts’ plea ignited a firestorm on X, with #TradeHurts trending nationwide within minutes and oddsmakers adjusting Eagles futures odds downward by 15 percent.
The NFL’s collective jaw dropped further just five minutes later, when head coach Nick Sirianni strode to the podium unannounced, his face a mask of resolve amid the brewing storm.
In a move that blindsided players, front-office executives, and even his own staff, Sirianni seized the play-calling duties from Patullo effective immediately, effectively demoting the coordinator midseason. “This isn’t about blame; it’s about action,” Sirianni barked, his voice cutting through the stunned silence.
“We’ve evaluated everything this weekend, and the only way forward is for me to grab the reins on offense.
Kevin’s a pro—he’ll support from the booth—but we need identity now, not excuses.” The decision, announced ahead of Monday’s trip to face the Los Angeles Chargers, marks a seismic shift for a staff already under siege.
Sirianni, whose job security has been questioned since last year’s late collapse, defended the call as a “gut punch to complacency,” citing analytics that favored aggressive adjustments in high-stakes spots.
Yet critics, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter, labeled it “panic disguised as leadership,” pointing to Sirianni’s own questionable in-game choices—like a failed two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter that left the Eagles down nine instead of eight—as evidence of deeper systemic woes.
As the Eagles limp into a short-week bye before their Chargers showdown, the questions mount.
Is Hurts’ cryptic farewell the end of an era in Philly, or a desperate cry for schematic salvation? Will Sirianni’s bold power grab ignite a turnaround, or exacerbate the fractures in a locker room that once embodied unbreakable brotherhood? For a team that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy just nine months ago, this Black Friday debacle feels like the dawn of doubt.
Chicago, meanwhile, rides high at 9-3, their fifth straight win a clarion call for NFC North supremacy. In the cutthroat world of professional football, where Super Bowl windows slam shut without warning, the Eagles’ shocking unraveling serves as a stark reminder: Even champions aren’t immune to collapse.
As Hurts himself might say, the fire must be reforged—or it consumes all.
