Chip Kelly's Message To Team: We're 3-4 And 'We've Got A Really Good Football Team'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Turn on the radio, go on Twitter, and interact with Eagles fans in Philadelphia. It feels like a complete dumpster fire.
The Eagles suffered an ugly 27-16 loss at the undefeated Carolina Panthers on Sunday night and many fans are impulsively calling for the firing of Kelly. But that's the week-by-week ebb and flow nature of the NFL and head coach Chip Kelly continues to seem unruffled.
On the outside, it's a mess. But on the inside, the message remains the same.
"I told those guys after the game, I said the two things I know right now---we're 3-4 and I also know that we've got a really good football team in that locker room," Kelly told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show. "We just need to get out of our own way sometimes and eliminate the mistakes that are hurting us."
Listen: Chip Kelly on the 94WIP Morning Show
The Eagles, despite winning the turnover battle, dropped seven balls and committed seven crucial penalties in an error-filled loss to the Panthers. At 3-4 heading into their Week 8 bye, Kelly understands the frustration of the passionate Philadelphia fan base.
"I think it's frustrating for everybody," Kelly said. "I think that this group plays with great effort, but we've got too many administrative penalties that hurt us. We took a really unnecessary penalty---we had them pinned down once on a real good punt, but then just got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which you usually don't get. And then the drops. I think those are things that we can control and we can fix."
Eagles safety and emotional leader Malcolm Jenkins told reporters after the game that some players need to have a fire lit under them. The coach doesn't necessarily agree.
"My opinion is that they play with great effort and I don't think it's a fire question," Kelly admitted. "I think it's a fundamental question and it's a making plays when your number is called question.
"We need to correct mistakes that we're making and hurting ourselves, and giving ourselves an opportunity to be a good football team."
