The Eagles were in turmoil, and something — anything — had to be done, fast. It wasn’t simply that they lost their second straight game. It was that they lost in a blowout anew, shining the spotlight on internal disagreements that would have otherwise been deemed typical through the course of a long season. And so, as recounted by ESPN, the players held an unprecedented closed-door meeting prior to their Week Eight set-to against the dangerous Bills. “We had a lot of internal conversations, a lot of tough conversations,” veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins, an acknowledged leader, was quoted as saying.
Considering how the Eagles buckled down to work the other day, the meeting obviously produced the desired effect. They came out with the kind of effort on the road that even their notoriously critical fan base couldn’t have helped but appreciate. For all the scrutiny they faced, they took to heart the message that they were masters of their fate; only they had the capacity to frame their future as they saw fit. And the result highlighted their potential moving forward; they dominated the 5-1 Bills in front of a hostile crowd of 69,435 en route to a 31-13 victory.
To argue that the Eagles displayed sharpness on both ends of the field would be an understatement. They were down early, but once they got in a groove, there was no stopping their balanced attack. Certainly, they proved that they had a ground attack to turn to, with running backs Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard combining for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, quarterback Carson Wentz, whose playcalling was being questioned in the midst of their twin setbacks, turned in a rock-solid showing to complete 17 of 24 passes for 172 yards and a score, not to mention net an additional 38 yards off eight carries.
True, the Eagles will be in for a tough homestand. Up next are the Bears and, after a bye, the Patriots and the Seahawks, powerhouses both. If there’s anything their experience resulting in their triumph the other day underscored, however, it’s that the process is just as important as the outcome. Success is a journey, not a destination, and for as long as they’re able to continue canceling any outside noise, they’ll learn to live with any outcome they craft together.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
