- The Cardinals pulled off a stunning second-half comeback over the Eagles
- Philadelphia must win and rely on Dallas losing in Week 18 to clinch No. 2 seed
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Jason Kelce admitted the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals on New Year’s Eve was frustrating.
The Eagles’ home-field advantage for the NFL playoffs was all but snatched away from Philadelphia as the Cardinals produced a stunning 29-point, second-half comeback at Lincoln Financial Field.
The 35-31 loss marked Philadelphia’s fifth of the season and potentially its final game at home as the Eagles head into their Week 18 game at the New York Giants now needing a win and a Dallas Cowboys loss to the Washington Commanders to have any hope of clinching the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
And after blowing a 15-point lead after the half on Sunday, Kelce admitted that the whole team was left infuriated.
‘The fans are frustrated, we’re frustrated,’ he told brother Travis Kelce on their New Heights podcast.
Jason Kelce admitted the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals was frustrating
The Cardinals produced a stunning 29-point second-half comeback to seal a 35-31 win
After blowing a 15-point lead after the half, Kelce admitted that the team was left infuriated
‘I think everyone is p***ed off following the game, if we’re being quite honest. This is a game that we knew had major implications. It’s probably going to turn into our last game at the Linc for the season, which is frustrating.’
However, the center insisted there were still positives to take from the Eagles’ game and that the team must turn its focus to improving.
‘Hey man, it’s over. All you can do is move forward and try and get things corrected,’ he added. ‘Look at the things you’re doing well. This how I look at it, I think Jalen played really well. If the quarterback is playing at a high level, that takes care of a lot.
‘Defensively, I know there’s been some bad games and coordinating changes. I see all that but at the end of the day I think we’ve still got great players over there. It’s not working right now but that doesn’t mean it can’t get better.
‘The only thing you can do as players, as teammates, as coaches, is keep coming to the building with the energy to work and get better. That’s the only option we’ve got.
‘And I honestly believe we’ve got the people in there to get the job done and make these corrections and to play at a high level. I know it’s not happening right now and it’s beyond infuriating when it’s not clicking. It tests you as a team, it tests you as a player, it tests you as a coach.
The veteran center insisted that quarterback Jalen Hurts was still playing at a high level
The 49ers (pictured quarterback Brock Purdy) have already locked down the NFC top seed
‘But man, I still love all those guys in that building and I look forward to continually working with them to go out there and right this thing.’
With the San Francisco 49ers having already locked down the top seed in the NFC, the highest the Eagles can clinch is No. 2.
But they need to rely on results from both themselves and the Cowboys to go their way to ensure they win the NFC East, which would likely see them win the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Lions – assuming Detroit beats the Vikings at home.
However, if the Cowboys win the NFC East, Philadelphia will be the No. 5 seed and travel to face the winner of the NFC South division.
