The playoffs are approaching and Hard Knocks is still kicking after Week 18 of the NFL season.
Here are some choice thoughts on the sixth episode of Hard Knocks: In-Season with the NFC East that aired on Tuesday evening on HBO and HBO Max:
1. Nick Sirianni explained to his Eagles team early in the episode about resting some players, but reiterated, “We are going out there to win this f******g game.” Sirianni gave the example of resting Jaelan Phillips, who, given his midseason trade from the Dolphins to the Birds, hadn’t had a true bye week all season (spoiler: they didn’t win the game).
2. Sirianni said that he tries not to be superstitious on the sidelines, but the only time he considers it is when the Eagles need a big blocked kick. During the Rams game, Sirianni said to special teams coordinator Michael Clay, “Can we block this?” before that game-saving final play in the Eagles’ victory. Sirianni said the same thing to Clay before the Eagles blocked an extra point in the Bills game a couple weeks back.
3. It shouldn’t have taken until episode 6 for everyone to see how great of a singer that Jordan Davis is.
4, Washington’s Bobby Wagner watched the film The Martian without sound? I don’t think Ridley Scott and Matt Damon would appreciate that:
5. The Eagles were concerned about balancing rest and attempting to win in Week 18 after another division title in this episode. The Cowboys were concerned about if Dak Prescott would be in a position to be the first Dallas quarterback to lead the league in passing yards. These franchises are not on the same plane of existence currently.
6. There was a heavy Prescott focus in this episode, so let me put some of his career into context… if the Cowboys were the No. 1 seed in the NFC the next two seasons and won the Super Bowl both times, he would still have fewer playoff wins than Donovan McNabb.
7. “Bobby Wagner is just five tackles away from 2,000 career tackles.” Congrats? Are we pretending this is the equivalent of 3,000 hits in baseball?
8. NFL Films did the Eagles’ secondary a solid by not magnifying all the defensive penalties they had or Kelee Ringo’s inexplicable goal line “turn around” move on Josh Johnson’s touchdown run.
9. I didn’t really need to see Josh Harris. Thanks.
10. “It’s crunch time, bro,” Davis said to Tyler Steen walking off the field following the Eagles’ loss to the Commanders. It sure is, man!
11. Finishing up with “Under the Pressure” by Philly’s own The War on Drugs at the end of the episode? I don’t like it… I love it. Good vibes heading into the postseason!
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