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NFL·ANALYSIS·October 12, 2026 08:32 PM ET

Sirianni takes blame for short kickoff in Eagles loss to Jaguars

Opening kickoff went 90 yards before penalties wiped it

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read
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What happened: Philadelphia kicked short with eight seconds left and Jacksonville out of timeouts in London. Sirianni said the call should have been a kickoff into the end zone for a touchback at the 35. The opening kickoff went 90 yards for a Jaguars touchdown before offsetting penalties wiped it out.

Why it matters: The admission concedes Philadelphia could not trust its coverage unit to make a tackle. Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said coaches must rely on back-end roster players on special teams. Keeping retired tackle Lane Johnson on the 53-man roster leaves one fewer spot for coverage help.

By the numbers: Eight seconds remained with Jacksonville out of timeouts. Touchback spot was the 35. Jacksonville had a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown nullified by offsetting penalties.

What to watch: Philadelphia's next kickoff decisions and coverage personnel carry added scrutiny. The final special-teams roster spots are the near-term pressure point.

Sources

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NFLAnalysisPhiladelphia EaglesJacksonville JaguarsLane Johnson
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