A day after the Philadelphia Eagles ended their season with a home playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, fans across the region expressed shock and disappointment.
The favored Eagles lost in the wild-card round, leaving many supporters questioning what went wrong.
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“I thought yesterday was a lock,” said John Hallenbeck of Blue Bell, Pa. “The last time Brock Purdy came in, we destroyed him. So yesterday was a little bit of a shock.”
Some fans are calling for changes within the organization.
“Bring some new people in, please!” said South Philly’s Gwen Holmes.
Many blame offensive coordinator Kevin Pattullo for the team’s inability to score.
RELATED: Eagles’ season-long issues evident in playoff loss to 49ers, sideline brawl between Sirianni and Brown
Others criticized wide receiver AJ Brown after a heated sideline exchange with head coach Nick Sirianni.
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“He can’t cry like he used to and then throw the ball away,” South Philly’s Nyle Grande said. “The wind played a role in the game, but some of it comes down to being a pro and I didn’t think he played his part last night.”
Not all fans are ready to give up on Brown.
“I really like him, though,” said Annette Bailey of North Philadelphia. “I think he should stay. I think they can work it out.”
The Eagles ultimately fell short in their title defense due to another uninspiring offensive output.
While most Eagles fans were disappointed, one Philly wore red to celebrate. Lifelong 49ers fan Anthony Turner said he was thrilled with the outcome.
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“Overall, I feel good. We’re in the second round. Eagles fans are going home,” Turner said. “We’re not going to be bullied easily. We’re not going to be bullied by any team in the NFL.”
Outside the NovaCare complex, 9-year-old Eli Pavlovec of Lumberton, New Jersey, showed up to greet the team and cheer them on.
“They probably feel the same sadness that I do,” Eli said. “Still a little angry.”
Fans now turn their attention to April’s NFL Draft and await possible changes during the offseason.
