Nick Sirianni losing to dysfunctional Browns could be his final Eagles straw

When we last left the Eagles, they were staggering into their bye week after a 33-16 loss to the Buccaneers two Sundays ago.

Perhaps the best thing to happen to them was the Phillies losing their playoff series to the Mets, taking some attention and heat off embattled Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and his team.

Another good thing for the 2-2 Eagles is that they play the dysfunctional 1-4 Browns on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, where their defense should be able to feast on Cleveland’s wildly-overpaid and bumbling quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The thing is, though: Should the Eagles fail to win Sunday against such a weak opponent — especially after a week off and three key players returning to the lineup — it could spell doom for Sirianni.

So, that adds a distinct element of pressure for the Eagles. They absolutely, positively, cannot lose this game or there may be panic in the streets of South Philly. If the Eagles are unable to right themselves in this classic “get right’’ game, you cannot rule out significant changes.

Their malaise this season dates back to last season, when a 10-1 start was soured by losing five of their final six regular-season games before a wild-card playoff thumping by the Buccaneers.

So, since that blistering 2023 start, the Eagles are 3-8.

Last week on “The Pat McAfee Show,’’ even former Patriots coach Bill Belichick weighed in critically on the Eagles’ issues.

“Look, they’ve lost [eight] of their last [11] games, so, when you sit there and say, ‘Well, they’re one of the best teams in the league,’ I don’t know,’’ Belichick said. “They do have a lot of good players and have a good team. I’m not saying they’re not a good team, I’m just saying they haven’t done very well lately.”

The Browns are perhaps at last a temporary antidote for what ails the Eagles. Cleveland ranks 30th yardage gained and scoring offense, with a paltry 15.8 15.8 points per game.

The Eagles figure to be stronger on offense with receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith returning from injuries as well as Pro Bowl guard Lane Johnson.

Still, Sirianni seems on shaky ground. After last season, he was forced into bringing in two new coordinators — Kellen Moore on offense and Vic Fangio on defense. Both are potential replacements for Sirianni should ownership decide it’s had enough. Fangio has been a head coach and Moore has been a “hot’’ candidate in recent years.

It all seems harsh for a coach who, just 19 months ago, led his team to the Super Bowl.

His quarterback Jalen Hurts, once considered an MVP candidate, has been pedestrian, throwing just four touchdowns to go along with four interceptions. Much of that certainly has to do with missing his top two receivers for periods of time.

But still …

Hurts, who signed a $255 million extension before last season, has committed at least one turnover in nine consecutive games and has seven this season (four INTs and three lost fumbles).

The Eagles have yet to score in the first quarter this season, outscored 23-0. They trailed the Buccaneers 24-0 midway through the second quarter and had been outgained 254-0 over the stretch.

Former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, signed in the offseason, has performed well — 435 rushing yards and four TDs in four games. Bryce Huff, the edge rusher signed away from the Jets, though, has been a flop, still seeking his first sack.

Perhaps a saving grace for Sirianni’s team is the schedule. The first four teams they play coming out of the bye — the Browns, Giants, Bengals and Jaguars — are a combined 5-15.

Perhaps another saving grace is Hurts saying this week that he had “great moments” with Sirianni during bye-week meetings.

“We’re the two leaders of the team,” Hurts said. “I’m happy and fortunate that we were able to come together in harmony and have the same goal in mind, trying to get this thing right. I got a ton of confidence in him, a ton of confidence in what he brings and everything he’s been able to accomplish.

“Everybody goes through different moments, everybody experiences adversity, but we’ve experienced different levels of adversity together. We’re excited for what’s to come.”