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Matt Patricia will take over Eagles' defensive play calling from coordinator Sean Desai

The Eagles have dropped back-to-back games to the 49ers and Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles assistant Matt Patricia will take over play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Sean Desai starting with Monday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer first reported the Eagles were making a change on Sunday, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport followed up by reporting Desai would retain his title of defensive coordinator. The Eagles themselves confirmed it later Sunday.

Philadelphia made the move on the heels of a two-game losing streak that includes a 42-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and a 33-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Patricia, 49, joined the Eagles in the offseason as a senior defensive assistant. He spent the previous two seasons as an assistant for Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots. Prior to his second stint in New England, Patricia was the the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018-20, a span that included a 13-29-1 record and saw the Lions fail to win more than six games in a single season.

Matt Patricia, left, will take over as defensive coordinator for the Eagles. (Tommy Gilligan/Reuters)
Matt Patricia, left, will take over as defensive coordinator for the Eagles. (Tommy Gilligan/Reuters)

Before joining the Lions, Patricia spent 14 seasons on Belichick's staff in New England as an assistant, including six seasons as defensive coordinator. Patricia's time in Detroit and his second stint with New England were marred by losing, disorganization and reported dysfunction.

The Eagles started the season 10-1 on the heels of last season's trip to the Super Bowl. They've since lost control of the NFC East and the path to the NFC's No. 1 seed while dropping to 10-3 alongside the Cowboys and 49ers. Both teams currently hold tiebreakers over the Eagles.

The Eagles entered Week 15 ranked 23rd in defense (353.9 yards allowed per game) and 28th in scoring defense (24.7 points allowed per game).