Hard Knocks after an Eagles win for the first time? This is quality television on par with when Breaking Bad finally started getting good!
Here are some choice thoughts on the third episode of Hard Knocks: In-Season with the NFC East that aired on Tuesday evening on HBO and HBO Max:
1. Jalen Hurts’ beam up the seam touchdown toss against the Raiders on Sunday was the icing on the cake for the Eagles’ 31-0 blowout win. The reaction between Hurts and Nick Sirianni was gold:
It’s a perfect encapsulation of the yin and yang of the quarterback-coach duo. Hurts tries to reel in Sirianni’s emotions a tad, but Sirianni counters and tries to bring out some emotion from the Birds’ stoic QB. For a team that’s been mired in losses for nearly a month and in drama for much longer than that, it was refreshing to see the two of them gel like that.
Additionally, Sirianni playfully harping on the design of that touchdown, potentially, might shed light on an increased role for Sirianni in the team’s overall offensive gameplan, as ESPN’s Tim McManus first reported ahead of the Week 14 Chargers matchup.
2. A 6’6, 325-pound offensive tackle doing 60 pull-ups in the “Bro Barn” in the middle of the night while injured and rehabbing? Lane Johnson is an out of this world player who will don a gold jacket in Canton one day. Though the Birds had a myriad of issues during their recent three-game skid, Lane Johnson’s absence loomed large amongst them. When Johnson has been healthy and on the field during his career, the Birds typically win. When he isn’t, they typically don’t. Things can be that simple with a player of that caliber.
3. How out of place did Jerry Jones look in that Dallas coaches meeting?
4. Brandon Graham should be mic’d up during every single game for the remainder of his career, however long that may be.
5. Jaelan Phillips has been awesome since coming to Philly, injecting some life into this Eagles pass-rush and defense overall, but can someone teach him the correct lyrics to “Fly Eagles Fly” in time for the next home game? He seems like he truly loves being here. A player as impactful as him needs to know!
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