Eagles looking for turnaround

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is like so many in and around Philadelphia.

As his team struggles to get out of a losing streak that has cost it a playoff berth — and maybe much more before it's all said and done — he's disappointed, he's frustrated, and he's puzzled.

But most of all, he's surprised.

More surprised that we're not winning ball games, Bowles said on Thursday, as coach Andy Reid's coordinators met the media. It's not about me. It's about a team as a whole. Everybody has their part in it, me included. I'll take my share of the blame as well. We just have to play better and we haven't been.

Bowles was promoted to defensive coordinator on Oct. 16, replacing Juan Castillo. That was two days after the Eagles lost to Detroit, 26-23, at home, and two games into what is now a seven-game skid.

You always think you have the right players here as well as the coaches, Bowles said. We just have to do a better job and we haven't been.

That could start on Sunday, when the last-place Eagles (3-8) take on the Cowboys (5-6) in Dallas. But first things first. The Eagles, searching for answers and short-handed on both sides of the ball, need to be motivated and have the past firmly behind them before this streak goes anywhere.

That's where Bowles and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg come in.

I think one thing in coaching, and I've been in this thing a little while now, is that motivation aspect, Mornhinweg said. It's key and it's every day with the motivation aspect of it. Now, we certainly are in a spoiler type role here and that can be very rewarding.

So, we have discussed that and it's very rewarding that way.