From Day 1, this Eagles season hinged on Sam Bradford. In Week 10, the seams burst.
Bradford suffered a concussion in the Eagles 20-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 10, dropping their record to 4-5.
The loss does not fall solely on Bradford, who was quietly putting together a solid day before the injury. The loss falls on the entire team — players and coaches alike.
That's been said too many times this season, but this time, it really rings true. When you come out of the gate, guns a-blazin' and take a 16-3 lead before the fans even really had time to settle in, you better finish the job.
The Eagles not only didn't finish the job, they went stone cold for the rest of the game.
Realistically, the Eagles dominated this game by the numbers. They ran more plays. They had possession longer. They trumped Miami in total yardage.
For nearly the entirety of Chip Kelly's tenure as Eagles head coach, we've talked about the shortages in time of possession, plays run and other possession numbers. Sometimes, you throw that out the window.
The number of the day today: 3. That's both the total number of points the Eagles scored in the final 45 minutes of play and the number Mark Sanchez wears.
You'll be seeing a lot of Sanchez in the next couple of games at least. The Eagles now play twice in 10 days, which may not be enough time for Bradford to recover. Sanchez only threw the interception inside the 10 that helped seal the Eagles fate.
At 4-5, knowing that Sanchez is going to have to lead the charge, the fate of the Eagles season may also be sealed.
This team is just too inconsistent, too prone to mistakes, to succeed.
The gaping holes were clearly noticeable on Sunday. The running game, facing the NFL's 31st-ranked run defense, managed 83 yards. Why? No offensive line protection.
The offensive line has been a huge problem all season. They've had their moments, but overall, it has been inconsistent and trying for Bradford, DeMarco Murray and company.
Bradford, and now Sanchez, show the Eagles do not have a quarterback that can carry them in the future. Given his injury, Bradford may never find a steady starting role on any team. He's too much of a risk. If last year didn't prove enough, Sanchez limited starting time showed he won't be able to carry a team either.
The Eagles will need to try again and draft a quarterback and linemen to fill the huge holes on offense.
Defensively, it was an average game. The Eagles certainly would like a few plays back, none more than the go-ahead touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Jarvis Landry. But late in the game, the defense did their job and gave the Eagles a chance to win.
The biggest problem with the Eagles is their constant focus on what other teams are doing. The Giants lose here, the Cowboys lose there, the Eagles look and think about how the division is still within reach at a potential 8-8 record.
Good teams don't think about the minimum. They take care of business that much faster and punch their playoff ticket with weeks to spare.
If the Eagles somehow manage to make the playoffs, which at this point, sounds as unlikely as ever, they would be coasting in, not riding an emotional wave. That would lead to another one-and-done playoff run, which isn't much to get excited about.
Given Bradford's injury and an uphill climb they are still facing to get back to the point of the final playoff spot, you might as well stick a fork in 'em. They're cooked.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
