Philadelphia Eagles News

Morning Roundup: 'Everybody's 0-0 going into this week'

Jan 08, 2024 at 08:30 AM

Chris McPherson

The playoffs are here!

The Eagles open up their postseason run and defense of their NFC title on the road in the Wild Card Round against the NFC South Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Owen Boyle has the details about the matchup as well as a recap of the Week 3 meeting between the two teams, won by the Eagles, 25-11.

Before you dive into our Morning Roundup, presented by DraftKings, don't miss:

• Our Road to Victory has all of the playoff seedings and matchups for Wild Card Weekend.

• Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro looks at how the early-season matchup between these two teams provides a blueprint for the Eagles.

Nick Sirianni: 'Everybody's going 0-0 into this week'

It's a clean slate for the Eagles, who will travel on the road to Tampa Bay for the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. The 11 wins from the regular season, including one against the Buccaneers, are in the past. It's now about what needs to be done to survive and advance to the Divisional Round.

"We know there are a lot of teams that would want to be in our position of making the playoffs. We're in the playoffs, and we're moving onto Tampa Bay, and everything. Everybody's got to give everything they've got this week. Myself, starting with the coaches putting the plan together, and then everybody in that locker room," Head Coach Nick Sirianni said. "We need all players, coaches, all staff, all hands-on deck, leaving everything they've got in this locker room because everybody's 0-0 going into this week."

The regular season ended with a 27-10 loss to the New York Giants that did not impact the Eagles' playoff seeding. The Eagles needed to win and hope that the Washington Commanders would upset the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East title. Down 24-0 late in the first half against New York, Sirianni knew that it was in the best interest of the team to give some younger players reps and turn the attention to the playoffs.

The key for Sirianni and the coaching staff this week is to unlock what helped the Eagles get to a league-best 10-1 start.

"We've got a lot of good players that I know will give everything they've got," Sirianni said. "We've got a lot of players that know what it takes to get to the top. We've got a lot of guys in that locker room who know how to win playoff games. We've got a lot of coaches who know how to win playoff games. That's what makes you confident, is that.

"Yeah, I mean, none of us are quitters. We all get up off the mat when we're down and we get up and we keep going. When you get hit in life, when you get hit in football, you've got two options: You can stay down, or you can get you can get up. I know this group is fighters. I know this group will get up. I know that we've all been through things in our life that we've all had to deal with (expletive), and we know how to get up. That's why we're all sitting in this room. The same message that I talked to the guys about last year going into the NFC Championship Game about not only are we physically tough, we're mentally tough and think about all the stuff that you've been through in your life and why you're in this seat right now, is the same message I would say right now."

Jalen Hurts: 'Win or go home'

After Sunday's game, quarterback Jalen Hurts talked about his finger injury, more on that below, and said he's "taking it day by day at this point."

That approach goes for the entire team as well.

"In the end, I think as a team – as a team we have everything in front of us. We have the opportunities we want in front of us and it's about seizing that moment. Nothing else really matters, nothing else really matters. Not anything of the past, not any record, not any past wins or losses. It's the postseason and the objective is to win," Hurts said.

"The beautiful part about it is (that) you've got an opportunity in front of us to take advantage of that. Regardless if you fell down five times before, it's about how you get up for the sixth one, so we've got to respond as a team and everybody understands that. Everybody understands that. We can't waver from that; we can't waver from what's in front of us. It's about the work and that's what it is.

"It's always another opportunity. It's always another opportunity. It's about taking advantage of the opportunity. Do I think we've done a good job of doing that? No. Not as of late. That takes complete ownership of every individual doing that. Now, it's about finding that deep in our souls and figuring out ways to win. I think I've talked about the standard for a long time and the standard is to never be compromised because that is something internal that drives you to be the best you can be and do what you're capable of. Who cares how you win in the playoffs? Win or go home."

Hurts was asked what the head coach's message to the team was following the game.

"Pretty much what I'm saying now. Pretty much what I'm saying now, nothing else really matters," Hurts said. "There's – nothing else really matters."

What is the biggest thing that the Eagles need to address in Hurts' eyes?

"We haven't really had the consistency that we've desired as a team and that's something that we've been kind of looking for," he said. "We see glimpses of it. We have that conversation all the time where there are moments where you see it and there are moments where it's like, 'Oh man, something's not clicking.' We've got to find a way to be consistent and consistent more often and play at a high level more often. That's what it takes to win championships. In the end, it's about how you respond to it, and we've got to respond. This is what it is."

Injuries to Watch

Here is a look at the injuries coming into Sunday's regular-season finale, as well as ones from the game:

• S Reed Blankenship – The safety suffered a groin injury and did not return.

• WR A.J. Brown – Exited Sunday's game against the Giants with a knee injury. He went back to the locker room for examination. Head Coach Nick Sirianni said after the game that Brown was at the locker room entrance to greet the players as they came off the field.

• S Sydney Brown – Like A.J., Brown left Sunday's game with a knee injury and did not return, but reports indicate that it will keep him out of the playoffs.

• QB Jalen Hurts – The quarterback said that the middle finger on his throwing hand "popped out" of place during the first half of Sunday's game. It was taped up on the sideline and he returned to the game before several starters were pulled just before halftime.

"Taking it day by day at this point," Hurts said. "Very unfortunate, crazy thing, never experienced anything like that."

• G Cam Jurgens – Suffered an eye injury that ended his afternoon.

• CB Darius Slay – Missed the final four games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery but returned to practice last week.

• WR DeVonta Smith – Missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury and did not practice at all last week.

• RB D'Andre Swift – Did not play Sunday due to an illness. He was added to the injury report on Friday.