Another quarterback, another loss.

“Bazooka” Joe Milton had the chance to begin a new burst for the Eagles, but it wasn’t long until the Birds’ bubble burst. Milton had an average performance, but one couldn’t have expected too much from a guy who was with the team for a little over three weeks.

It was another disastrous performance from the offensive line that allowed seven sacks, and the defense — especially the secondary — looked worn down in the second half. The pass rush looked revived, but Jordan Davis got shipped to Jacksonville.

Former Northwestern longtime and legendary coach Bob Mitchell, who compiled an overall 177-130-1 record in 28 seasons and won three District 11 titles, along with Marian head coach and athletic director Billy O’Gurek — two regulars on the panel — will be joined by legendary sports writer Rich Strack (a lifetime Giants’ fan) and Times News sports editor Patrick Matsinko, as they will offer their views and opinions on issues in this week’s Eagles’ Roundtable.

In this week’s discussion the panel will look at Milton, the pass rush, the offensive line, the safety situation, and whether the Eagles will continue to peel off pieces.

(They responded before the Davis trade.)

How would you rate Milton’s performance?

Mitchell - “Milton brought some juice to the offense badly in need of it. He plays a different game than McKee. The lack of reps probably had something to do with the glitches we saw. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward.”

O’Gurek - “I think you saw why he’s been a practice squad player most of his NFL career. Tons of physical tools, but he still lacks accuracy while throwing the ball. I would let him finish the season and see if he improves. If anything, his mobility brings something different to the offense, (Tanner) McKee lacked the ability to run and (Jalen) Hurts almost refused to run.”

Strack - “Considering the rust for not playing an NFL game for so long, Milton was adequate. He’s a running threat out of the pocket and when given time, he finds the open receiver. He’s very athletic and he deserves to start the next game.”

Matsinko - “I’d give him a C-minus. He certainly brought a different element to the offense with his mobility, and there were a few flashes of what he can do. But completing 18 of 34 passes for 169 yards isn’t going to get it done. It’s also hard to give him a fair evaluation when he’s constantly running for his life. Seven sacks is ridiculous. I don’t think Milton was the answer, but I also don’t think he was the biggest problem Sunday. At this point, I’m not sure any quarterback could make this offense look good.”

Did the pass rush redeem itself or was the Giants’ running game bad?

Mitchell - “If there was any positive, it was the way (Jonathan) Greenard, (Nolan) Smith, (Jalen) Carter, and Davis played. They are all guys that the Eagles will be counting on, not just this season, but next year also. At this point, I would say it’s more important that they get these guys plus (Cooper) DeJean, (Quinyon) Mitchell, and (Zack) Baun straight for next season. The roster improvements in the offseason mostly likely will be focused on the offensive side of the ball.”

O’Gurek - “Well, the Giants’ running game was banged up and the Eagles were able to take advantage of that fact. Coach (Vic) Fangio called a pretty good game from my perspective. Lack of points and too much time on the field remains a problem.”

Strack - “The d-line was terrific; in fact, they produced the best pass rush against the Giants all season. Jeremiah Trotter was outstanding, especially in stopping the run game. The Giants had no run game with (Devin) Singletary’s 21 carries for 31 yards.”

Matsinko - “Probably a little of both, but I’ll give the defense some credit. Six sacks and holding Singletary to 31 yards on 21 carries is impressive regardless of the opponent. The defensive front finally looked like the group we’ve been waiting to see. That said, the Giants weren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut, and there were still some breakdowns in coverage. I wouldn’t call it complete redemption after the way this defense has struggled, but it was definitely a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the offense gave them almost no help.”

Can the offensive line ever be fixed?

Mitchell - “The offense line is the biggest problem I see with the Eagles. They are way out of sync. They just look old and slow. The blitz still seems to baffle them.”

O’Gurek - “Not this season. (Landon) Dickerson might be washed as an impact player, (Drew) Kendall & (Markel) Bell are playing like the young players they are, and Steen is just an average player who is exposed when not playing between Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens. Hopefully the younger players improve with more playing time, but I would bet on an offensive lineman being a high priority in the draft.”

Strack - “The o-line is certainly not what the Eagles have prided themselves in, once having one of the best in the league. (Saquon) Barkley was a non-factor and Milton was pressured or sacked too many times.”

Matsinko - “Eventually, yes. But I’m not convinced it’s happening this season. What’s most concerning is that this used to be the foundation of the entire team. Now it seems like every week there’s another missed assignment, another free rusher or another play where the quarterback has absolutely no chance. Injuries certainly haven’t helped, but seven sacks and another miserable performance running the football suggest the problems go deeper than personnel. The Eagles need to figure out whether it’s the scheme, communication or simply players not performing. It’s probably a combination of all three. Whatever the answer, this has become one of the biggest priorities for the organization.”

Can the struggling safety position be fixed?

Mitchell - “Cooper DeJean looks so uncomfortable in this new role. That one play he made coming off the edge is the player I remember. Are the Eagles asking too much of him? I don’t know how many options they have?”

O’Gurek - “Like the offensive line, the safeties’ play will only improve with new players. (Andrew) Mukuba is showing he isn’t much more than a depth piece and was probably overdrafted as a second rounder. The rotating door of veterans like Kenny Moore, Michael Carter, Marcus Epps hasn’t produced a useful starter. Free agency or the draft looks like the best way to improve this position group.”

Strack - “I thought the secondary, including the safety, played pretty well, forcing many coverage sacks on the Giants.”

Matsinko - “I think it can, but I’m not sure there’s an immediate solution on the roster. Losing Reed Blankenship’s experience and leadership was significant, and the Eagles haven’t really found a way to replace that stability. Andrew Mukuba still has potential, but there’s a difference between having talented players and having a dependable group that communicates and works well together. The breakdowns in coverage have been frustrating, especially when the defensive front actually does its job. I think this is another position that needs serious attention in the offseason, whether that’s through the draft or free agency.”

Will the Eagles be sellers, and who should go?

Mitchell - “I won’t be surprised if they are sellers.”

O’Gurek - “They should at this point. Any pending free agents should go: (Riq) Woolen, (Moro) Ojomo, and (Dallas) Goedert. If they are convinced Dickerson is not going to be the same player he once was, I would trade him also. Stock up on picks that will help for the next run.”

Strack - “At 2-7, the Eagles need to sell and it’s possible that Barkley will not be an Eagle for their next game.”

Matsinko - “At 2-7 with seven straight losses, I don’t see how they can approach the deadline as anything other than sellers. This isn’t a team that’s one or two additions away from turning things around. I’d start by listening to offers for players on expiring contracts, particularly Dallas Goedert and Riq Woolen. Goedert has been a valuable player, but if there’s a chance to get something meaningful in return, you have to consider it. I wouldn’t completely tear everything down, though. There are still talented young players worth building around, and I’d be hesitant to move someone like Jalen Carter or Cooper DeJean. Howie Roseman needs to be thinking about what this team can look like in 2027 and beyond, not desperately trying to save a season that’s already slipping away.”

My take - “It’s time for the Eagles to blow this up as much as they can. There’s no guarantee Jalen Hurts will be back next season, or that he will ever play again with more blood clots found. Bell and Jordan Mailata should be the only mainstays on the o-line. Roseman will keep a base, but he likely will do his best to get into the college football quarterback and offensive line derby. Adding another first-round pick for Davis was a start. Milton can play his way into a backup role for next season.”

Thanks to coaches Bob Mitchell and Billy O’Gurek, Rich Strack, and bossman Patrick Matsinko for sharing their thoughts this week.

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