Eagles coach gets support after trend on social media called for his firing

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles offense was struggling during Monday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, looking to find a spark to get things rolling and find a way to get more points on the board. During a stretch of five consecutive possessions, the Eagles could not come away with points, with an interception and four punts being how those drives ended.

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As each possession abruptly ended, people watching the game went on social media, sharing their frustration about the offense’s performance. Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson drew the ire of fans on the platforms, so much so that “Fire Brian Johnson” began trending on X/Twitter. Two days after the Eagles came away with the 21-17 win, Johnson has received a lot of criticism despite the numbers that the offense remains among the leaders in offensive categories.

Heading into Week 12, the Eagles are ninth in the league overall in offense (362.9 yards per game), eighth in rushing offense (128.1 yards per game), and 12th in passing offense (234.8 yards per game). However, the team still is first in both third (48.2%) and fourth down conversions (76.5%) and after a slow start with success in the red zone, the Eagles are ninth in the league in that category (58.9%), numbers that are significantly higher than what Matt Canada was able to accomplish with the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was fired this week.

Johnson, who took over for Shane Steichen after leaving to become the Indianapolis Colts head coach, has also had to adjust to his new role, getting a feel for the offense and what it has been doing well. The offense had gotten in a better grove before the Chiefs game, especially in the passing attack. On Wednesday, Johnson received praise from head coach Nick Sirianni for the job he has done replacing Steichen this season.

“I think Brian has done a phenomenal job of calling the game,” Sirianni said. “Obviously, Shane did an unbelievable job all last year, but I don’t feel like we’ve missed a beat on offense. We’ve been in a good groove, and Brian has just done a great job leading this group, calling the game, and making adjustments. He’s done a top-notch job.”

Quarterback Jalen Hurts also showed support for his former quarterbacks coach and the person who relays the plays to his helmet.

“He’s about his business,” Hurts said, describing Johnson. “He was the OC at Utah at the age of 23 or 24, I think, so he’s been doing this for a very long time. He’s been one of a kind in the sense of his experience and the route he’s taken to get to where he is now. It’s unprecedented for someone to start that young, work their way up, and obviously have the opportunity he has now. He’s doing a great job with it, and we continue to grow with all of us.”

Johnson will have a chance to change the perception of him outside of the NovaCare Complex on Sunday afternoon when the Eagles take on the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field. It will not be an easy task for the Eagles offense because the Bills have one of the best defensive lines in the league and still play stout defensively, finding themselves 10th in the league in team defense, giving up 314.6 yards per game. They also have been stingy when allowing points, allowing the fourth-fewest points per game (17.3).

There is an outside chance that Johnson could have a player back that could open some spacing in the middle of the field with tight end Dallas Goedert still out with a forearm injury. The Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Quez Watkins . Watkins has missed the last five games after he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Watkins has been off to the side catching footballs off the JUGGS machine, but the team has been bringing him back slowly, ramping up his participation and seeing if the hamstring injury can withstand more use on the field.

If Watkins returns, it could force the Bills secondary to not double or roll their coverage a lot to the side of either A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith while allowing them to keep an eye on the middle of the field to make sure Watkins does not get behind the safeties and in the position to potentially make a play.

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