For struggling Eagles, no end to turnovers during lost season

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles committed five turnovers in their first game of the season. They committed five turnovers in their 14th game of the season. In between, this habit was rarely interrupted.

The Eagles were leading the NFL with 34 turnovers before Sunday's games. Their 12 takeaways were among the fewest in the league. The minus-22 turnover margin was tied for the worst in the NFL. The list of reasons the Eagles are 4-10 could stretch from Franklin Field to Lincoln Financial Field, but there is little question about what would be at the top of the list.

Turnovers destroy you in this league. There's one thing that if we didn't know it before the season, we surely know it now that we're sitting there at minus-22 in the giveaway/takeaway area, coach Andy Reid said. You have 123 points scored on 34 turnovers, and you're only getting 33 points on your 12 takeaways. That's a bad stat.

Some teams have bad weeks. The Eagles have had a bad season.

In Thursday's 34-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, they committed turnovers on three consecutive plays, and had four in five plays. Yet the players within the locker room do not concede that the Eagles are undisciplined.

When middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans was asked if they were, he responded by wondering why such an idea would even be suggested. Told about the team's turnovers and penalties, Ryans remained unconvinced.

We've got to hold onto the ball, but I don't think that's discipline, Ryans said. Discipline is being where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to do. Now when it comes to execution, that's up to that player. Holding onto the ball, catching the ball, being in the right gap.

The youth on the roster is not the only excuse for the team's record, but it at least helps explain why there are so many turnovers.