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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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The Philadelphia Eagles are facing an uphill climb after losing starting quarterback Jalen Hurts for the season due to his diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli.
They have also been without their star running back, Saquon Barkley, and several key receivers, including DeVonta Smith, adding to this season's rough start. Philadelphia has lost four straight games, with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers picking up wins at their expense.
As some critical fans are blaming head coach Nick Sirianni for the team's struggles to win games, fellow Super Bowl-winning coach and Hall of Famer Bill Cowher came to his defense and fired back at the critics.
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"Nick Sirianni, he's been to the playoffs five straight years, been to two playoffs, he's won one. He's also had three assistant coaches become head coaches with our feathers in his cap," Cowher said on "NFL on CBS" Sunday.
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The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach emphasized what Sirianni is dealing with after having so much success over multiple seasons. He mentioned that the Eagles have a first-year offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, who replaced Kevin Patullo in the offseason.
Cowher also recalled going to the playoffs six straight years as the Steelers' head coach, but said that in the ensuing three years, he "lost some assistant coaches" and "made some mistakes."
He also mentioned that he was able to build the team back into a strong contender after that.
"Let me say this about Nick Sirianni---he’s a winner. He knows how to galvanize a locker room. … Give this guy a chance ... This team is not out of the playoff scenario one bit. Give me a break on Nick Sirianni. He's fine," Cowher said, firing back at the Eagles coach's detractors.
Sirianni has coached Philadelphia since 2021 and guided them to a Super Bowl win over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.
With how poorly NFC East teams have looked early in the season, the Eagles still have a chance, even with backup Tanner McKee at quarterback. They're currently at 2-4 and face a significant game against division rival, the 2-4 Dallas Cowboys, in "Monday Night Football." Wins are still essential to have a shot at claiming the division, with the 4-2 Giants leading, and a playoff spot.
Philadelphia is currently an underdog heading into the Cowboys matchup, with receivers Smith and Dontayvion Wicks listed as questionable on Friday's injury report. However, the Eagles will have Barkley back in the lineup, giving them a potential offensive weapon.
The Eagles face the Cowboys beginning at 8:20 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 26, as they attempt to snap their disappointing losing streak.
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