The Eagles picked up a HUGE Week 6 win over the Cowboys, keeping the team undefeated and now firmly atop the NFC East. Head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to reporters immediately after the game and talked a bit about what it’s like to beat Dallas and what it’s like to play for a national audience. He also spoke of the prominent leadership of Jalen Hurts.
The head coach acknowledged that they still have to play a full game, but it’s exciting to be 6-0 and still have room to improve.
Here’s what the head coach had to say:
On what it’s like to beat Dallas
“There’s no doubt that it’s one of the best rivalries – like, it looks like Auburn-Alabama, it looks like Michigan and ohio state. That’s what it does, and so of course you want to win the games against the teams in that division, because that’s what’s so cool about the teams in that division, like the hated rivalries. These are hated rivalries that, you know, guys keep playing in. Sometimes I hear Michael Irvin talk about his rivalry with Philadelphia, and I think that’s so cool. And, you know, I’ve heard of Eagles players in the past talking about the importance of this game, with [Brian] Westbrook and [Donovan] McNabb, and those guys, and [Michael] Vic. So I think it’s really cool, like there’s no doubt it’s cool.
Now they all count the same. They all count for a win, right? It didn’t count as two wins, it was still one win. So our next biggest game is this, but it’s cool. Yeah, that’s nice because it’s a cool division to be in.
He later noted that when he looks at the playmakers they have on offense, he chases a score every time they enter the field, but the Cowboys had a lot of defensive players who took on a big challenge. .
Sirianni was asked about their game plan for Micah Parsons, and he joked, “If you can’t block them, read them.” The head coach went on to say the Eagles did a good job blocking Parsons, who sometimes pressured Jalen Hurts. He explained that they were also aware of the groin injury that Parsons was recovering from.
Win a prime time game
“The cool thing about playing Sunday night — what I’ve also learned about playing Monday night, or just playing Philadelphia in general — is that there’s a lot of national Eagles news. And that’s kinda cute, isn’t it? You know, you dream – when you’re in high school, you dream in front of a stadium that’s as crowded as possible, so that everyone can see you on the bill, and the same thing on the screen. university. What’s so cool about Philadelphia is that it’s such a big sports city, that it matters here, and it matters nationally here, and it’s great to see and to be able to put it’s worth.
Sirianni went on to say that the guys made some big plays, which they were able to show off, and he was thrilled to know that some of his former coaches and family were able to watch the national game. The head coach also pointed out that he appreciates the Eagles fans so much that The Linc was switching from the number one game, which he says sets the tone for the game.
On Jalen Hurts’ performance
“Top notch leadership, the guy is not fazed by things. He has a great demeanor that you see in big quarterbacks who – there are so many big games in the NFL. It’s a huge game, isn’t it? Division rival Sunday Night Football, both at the top of the division, and he’s not scared of things. And so, that’s what I love about him is that he’s just going to play the next piece.
He made a big play in the 3rd and 4th, and I think we had no one open and he made a play with his legs. He was controlling the offense, he was using the clock – like, he had total control and was communicating what our message was to the offensive line or the running backs, in this scenario, and that was quarterback 101 right there by Jalan.
Other notables
- Sirianni explained how when they’re in a lull he leans on his playmakers, and against Dallas he cited leaning on the offensive line for the fourth quarter.
- The head coach said he does not regret the decision made at the end of the first half to run out of time. He noted that Lane Johnson had just left the game, they tried to play, then decided to head to the locker room.
- When asked if they had to change their pass protection significantly when Lane Johnson left the game, he admitted they had to do their job as coaches to figure out what would work best against the one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Sirianni said Jack Driscoll gave them good minutes and they had a lot of confidence in the decision with Driscoll’s experience.
- Sirianni also talked about coming alive on the sidelines after Jason Kelce was hit late. He admitted he was sure the Eagles players weren’t blameless in this little skirmish, but he’s always going to defend his guys, and that’s what he did.