THE EAGLES' defense played only 48 snaps Sunday. Connor Barwin was on the field for just 25 of them, 52 percent, the veteran defensive end's lowest total of the season, well below his 73 percent average.
Barwin, 30, a franchise bellwether these past four seasons, said he wasn't surprised. Asked what he thought the falloff was based on, Barwin said: "I think that's based on, we're out of the playoffs, there's some young guys in our room, and they want to see 'em play."
That is indeed where we are with three games left in a season that can't turn out better than 8-8.