Foles cites culture issues after Eagles fall to Cowboys

Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles identified cultural dysfunction as the primary driver behind the team's current struggles following a 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

Foles, a Super Bowl LII champion, stated on Tuesday's episode of The SZN with Nick Foles & Evan Moore and NBC Sports Philadelphia that he sensed trouble early in the season. He pinpointed the Eagles' parting of ways with defensive line coach Jeff Stoutland after last season as the initial sign that something was wrong.

The former starter argued that specific internal habits, rather than on-field execution, have defined the team's recent performance. He noted that the offensive line failed to help teammates who were knocked down, a lapse he said undermined the unit's ability to function as a cohesive group. Foles observed that this shift in dynamic is visible in the eyes of head coach Nick Sirianni and the players on the sideline.

"There is dysfunction in Philly, Foles said. It was little things for me. It wasn't the execution that got me. It was culture things. In Philadelphia, for the better of the past couple decades, they have had really good culture. Something is changing."

Foles compared the current season to the Eagles' final year under head coach Andy Reid, noting a similar atmosphere of veteran leaders trying to hold the team together while dealing with an exhausted defense. He pointed out that the 2017 team survived similar injuries because it had veteran coaches on both sides of the ball, a depth the Eagles lack this year with first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.

The Eagles have lost five consecutive games and face the Washington Commanders on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. on NBC10, followed by a game against the New York Giants on November 8 at 1 p.m. on Fox29. Foles expressed uncertainty about the path forward, stating that he does not see the right way to fix the current roster issues. He added that the team is not in a position to succeed right now and that the offense is significantly behind in its development.

Co-host Evan Moore warned the front office to be careful not to confuse desperation with opportunity as the trade deadline approaches. Foles emphasized that while backup quarterback Tanner McKee is playing within the system, the team needs more than just him to turn the season around. He concluded that the Eagles are not just missing one or two players, but are an entire offensive scheme away from being competitive.