The Eagles head coach spoke to reporters after their Week 8 win and talked about how important it is to win the turnover battle, and noted what makes Jalen Hurts so impressive.
The Eagles had a big win over the Bengals, and finished the game really strong. Head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to reporters before the team left Cincinnati, and talked about the physicality of the football team, how important it is for them to win the turn-over battle, and talked about the performances by Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith.
Here’s what the head coach had to say:
On the Eagles’ win over the Bengals
“I think we have a physical football team.”
Sirianni gave credit to the Bengals for being a really good football team, but thought that the Eagles seven-minute drive in the second-half was really well-executed, resulted in points, and acknowledged OC Kellen Moore did a great job with the play calls.
“Great job by Jalen [Hurts] for executing that. That’s not always the easiest thing, when you’re taking the clock down, and then unbelievable job in our run game — and we threw the ball when we needed to. So, good job there.”
The head coach later said that the team was excited post-game in the locker room. He explained that it’s really hard to win in this league — whether it’s a blow-out or by just a point —, and they put everything they have into this game every week. Sirianni said he’s proud of the team for being mentally tough and for getting the win on Sunday.
He also admitted that Jalen Hurts being under center and doing a little more play-action was by design.
“I think the identity of this football team is physical and that’s what we’re going to try and play by each week, is physical. Now, when you say physical, that doesn’t mean you have to run it every time — you run it, you pass it, you can be physical in both aspects.
On the long touchdown pass to DeVonta [Smith], Jack Stoll was physical on that block on the perimeter. Wait until you see that one again, where you’re watching Jack Stoll block the perimeter and giving Jalen [Hurts] enough time to make a perfect throw and somebody to make a big-time catch.”
Sirianni went on to note that he thinks identity gets overblown, because really their identity is to play with great detail, to play physical with great toughness, and to play together. Everything else, is going to change every week, every game.
On DeVonta Smith’s performance
“He made clutch catches.”
Sirianni explained that it wasn’t really a surprise that Smith had a big game, especially coming off a one catch for -2 yard performance last week. The head coach noted that the last time Smith was shut out of a game, he came back with a big game the week after. Having up and down weeks is just how the game goes, but that’s why they can’t overreact when things happen, but Sirianni is proud of Smith for how he tunes everything out and attacks the work.
On closing out the game
Sirianni said that the turnovers created on defense, along with the impressive seven-minute drive, all allowed for the Eagles to maintain and extend their lead late in the game.
The head coach lauded Isaiah Rodgers for coming in for an injured Darius Slay — for the third game in a row — and how he was able to help create a turnover against one of the best receivers in the league. Rodgers made a play on the ball that allowed C.J. Gardner-Johnson a chance to catch the interception.
Sirianni also gave credit to Zack Baun who was able to force a fumble. He explained that they have a really good record in games when they win the turnover battle. And while the official stats will show +2 in the turnover battle, they’ll consider it +3 in-house with the big fourth-down stop that created a turnover on downs.
On Jalen Hurts’ performance
The head coach had a lot of positive things to say about Jalen Hurts and the day he had in Cincinnati. Sirianni noted that it’s really hard to bleed the clock in certain situations, but the QB made good decisions and good throws to both get them in the game, and to close it out.
Hurts hasn’t had a turnover since the bye week, and Sirianni was asked about how the QB has been so efficient the past three weeks.
“Jalen [Hurts] puts the work in. That’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough for Jalen Hurts — how much he loves football and the amount of time he puts into this game, and that’s what you want one of your leaders on your team to be.”
Sirianni went on to say that during the bye week, they were able to look at some of the things they were inefficient on and some of the things they did well, and the QB put so much work into it, that they’re seeing the results.
Other notables
- Sirianni was happy with how the offensive line played on Sunday, particularly Fred Johnson and Tyler Steen, and how they were able to fill some starting spots. They game-planned specifically for Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, and he thought Fred Johnson did a good job managing that situation when he was one-on-one.
- The head coach gave a lot of credit to players throughout the offense for doing a good job securing the football and making sure they weren’t turning it over. He noted that a lot is made of Hurts not throwing interceptions, but Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown both had moments where they kept the ball safe in tough situations.
- He was asked about being superstitious and buzzing his hair, but quipped that his wife doesn’t really like the new hair-do, so he’ll have to see if it’s something that sticks around.
