The Philadelphia Eagles will begin their quest for a second consecutive title this Sunday when they face the San Francisco 49ers. And it’s precisely the NFL playoffs-an environment of maximum pressure-especially for a team considered one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

This is the exact scenario facing first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, one of the most criticized figures on the coaching staff, where a Wild Card Round loss could be devastating and potentially cost him his job.

An elimination at the hands of an injury-plagued opponent could trigger his dismissal for failing to overcome that defense.

Nick Sirianni was recently asked about how Patullo has handled the challenge of calling plays for the offense, highlighting his mental strength.

“There’s always adjustments and as you go through, I thought he has done a nice job of handling everything that’s come his way, staying mentally sharp and staying mentally tough,” Sirianni said.

“I know there’s always going to be criticism and you’re probably not, as offensive coordinator, going to get as much praise, but you’re always going to get some criticism.

“…I think he’s done a nice job handling that, and I think that we’ve done some really good things and we’re getting better as the season goes through,” he added during his press conference.

Last year, there were significant struggles in the passing game, but all was ultimately forgotten when the Eagles continued their path to the Super Bowl. That’s precisely why an elimination before reaching the Super Bowl represents the worst-case scenario for Kevin Patullo.

“We’ve got to be even more consistent, and obviously there are always times after every game when there are calls you want back,” said Sirianni. “Players are going to have plays they want back. I’m going to have decisions that we talk through during the week or even during the game that I rethink. That’s the nature of this thing.”