The Philadelphia Eagles flew all the way across the Atlantic Ocean just to hand a victory to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unsurprisingly, former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel has seen enough.
Eight seconds left, a one-point lead, and a squib kick sealed it. Instead, Nick Sirianni gifted Jacksonville a live return, setting up an improbable walk-off win.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the room.
Speaking on the “Say What Needs To Be Said” show, Samuel put Sunday’s 19-17 collapse squarely on Philadelphia’s head coach.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
“You lost the game for your team,” Samuel said. “Of course, the team was going to have his back and say, ‘No, coach, it’s not on you. It’s on us.’ But all the coach had to do was call a squib kick. A squib kick at the end of the game is normal and done all the freaking time.”
Samuel torched Sirianni for his lack of awareness in crunch time.
Cornerback Asante Samuel #22 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates an interception against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 20, 2009, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The Eagles won 27-13. (Getty Images)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni looks on after an NFC Wild Card Round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Jan. 11, 2026. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
“Nick Sirianni must have had a lapse in his brain or something and wasn’t paying attention for him to miss out on that situation,” Samuel said. “There’s no way your team fights that hard for that long, and you let your team down by not making sure the right call is being made.”
The blunder erased what should have been a gritty road win. Down Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith to hamstring injuries, Philadelphia took a 17-16 lead with eight seconds left on Jake Elliott’s 48-yard field goal.
NFL WEEK 5 SUNDAY TAKEAWAYS: RODGERS DEFIES FATHER TIME, COEN GETS BAILED OUT, 49ERS SURVIVE UGLY PERFORMANCE
Jacksonville’s Ameer Abdullah responded by fielding a clean kickoff, ripping off a 53-yard return, and setting up Cam Little’s walk-off 57-yarder as time expired.
The loss dropped Philadelphia to 2-3 while pushing the Jags to their third-straight victory.
Sirianni fell on his sword Sunday right after the final whistle.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP
“I didn’t make the right decision and I lost us that game,” Sirianni told reporters. “And that’s what I said to our guys. What hurts there is that the guys fought so hard, and then I don’t make the decision that I should make at the end of the game and I cost us that game and I put that fully on me.”
When asked why Philadelphia left eight seconds on the board before Elliott’s kick, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts made it clear game management was outside his control.
Philadelphia Eagles great Asante Samuel and actor Miles Teller entertain fans during the game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 14, 2022, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Asante Samuel No. 22 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates his interception in the first half against the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game Aug. 25, 2011, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. (Getty Images)
“It’s not my place, and we’re prepared, I’m prepared as a quarterback to not worry about those things,” Hurts told reporters Monday. “So I’m honoring a play call, honoring the things that are coming in the game. When I’m up at night, yeah, I think about, ‘Man, should I have said something, or should I have took a step back and said, “Wait”?’ But ultimately, there’s a commitment to that and going out there and executing. And so this was one where it did not work in our favor.”
JALEN HURTS SAVES EAGLES FROM UGLY UPSET AS PHILADELPHIA ESCAPES TITANS TO REMAIN UNBEATEN
Sirianni doubled down Monday, shutting down any idea that Hurts should have overruled the sideline.
“Jalen’s playing,” Sirianni told reporters. “We’re coaching and calling the plays, and Jalen’s got to go execute what we call in that moment, 100 percent. We’re not asking him to make play calls in that scenario. He’s already got enough to worry about to go out and execute. That’s where we were there in that situation.”
CASE KEENUM’S PERFORMANCE IN WIN OVER EAGLES SHOULD TELL BEARS THIS: DON’T RUSH BACK CALEB WILLIAMS
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 4, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sirianni can preach staying in your lane all day, but Hurts is losing sleep over brain-dead strategy, and Samuel wants the head coach held to the fire.
Good luck fixing that mess.
Send us your thoughts: [email protected] / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
