The [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.pennlive.com/philadelphiaeagles/)’ humiliating loss to the Dallas Cowboys has everyone talking.
Anyone who follows the team closely has weighed in on what happened Sunday at AT&T Stadium — and more importantly, how the Eagles coughed up a 21-0 lead.
Former Eagles defensive end and Super Bowl champion Chris Long discussed the 24-21 defeat for almost a half hour on his podcast, [“Green Light with Chris Long.”](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxWFAA-wuB7osdiAJyLOcw)
Long, alongside Super Bowl LII teammate Beau Allen, pointed out one key issue that has been holding back the offense, which failed to score on eight straight drives to close the game and could not run the ball with Saquon Barkley managing only 22 yards on 10 carries.
“This team has been built around the offensive line since we won a championship (in 2017),” Long said. “That team was built around the offensive line. This team has been built around the offensive line. We always talk about who’s the main character. The main character has always been the offensive line. And now the main character is not perfect.
“You can talk about the coordinator (Kevin Patullo). I don’t know how much of it is quarterback preference. I don’t know how much of it is the quarterback (Jalen Hurts) or the coordinator just not knowing what the f\*\*\* to do.
“But I think at the end of this season it’s going to be very interesting. Anything short of a Super Bowl and you’re going to hear a lot of stuff come out about whatever was going on behind the scenes. Because it’s not functional right now. It’s not functional. ... The flaws are real.”
Long then circled back to the offensive line, which has been a strength under longtime position Jeff Stoutland. The Eagles’ front has been considered among the best in the NFL for the majority of Stoutland’s 13 seasons in charge.
But that hasn’t been the case this season.
Right tackle Lane Johnson is out with a foot injury. Left guard Landon Dickerson has played through a knee injury suffered in training camp. And center Cam Jurgens has battled through various nagging issues throughout the year. Those are three All-Pro players who are either out or not playing to the standard Stoutland has set.
“You really have to, if you’re an Eagles fan, start thinking about what you look like in a post Stoutland’s All-Stars world,” Long said of the 63-year-old coach. “Because if this is what the offense is going to look like in a post-Stoutland world, and I mean the great offensive lines they field year over year, I don’t know. I don’t know if this is sustainable.”
Philadelphia and its offensive line will have to bounce back after a short layoff. The Eagles (8-3) host the Chicago Bears (8-3) on Black Friday at Lincoln Financial Field.