Nick Sirianni: '2024 Eagles got a lot tighter' from win in New Orleans
Nick Sirianni says the Philadelphia Eagles displayed an immense togetherness during Sunday's improbable 15-12 win at the New Orleans Saints, a turning point that could propel them going forward.
"Just felt such togetherness on that football team. The defense saying to the offense, 'We got you.' It was awesome on the sideline. If we have a failed conversion they look at me and say, 'I got you,'" Sirianni told Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie on Tuesday's 94WIP Morning Show.
"It was just such good team football. This 2024 Eagles team got tighter, a lot tighter, just from that experience there...It's such a great example for other things moving forward."
Down five with just 1:16 to go in the game, the Eagles faced a seemingly impossible 3rd-and-16 from their own 35-yard line. Somehow, a crossing pattern between Jahan Dotson and Dallas Goedert resulted in the Saints defenders colliding and Hurts finding Goedert for a 61-yard catch and run setting up a Saquon Barkley game winning touchdown run.
Before the final drive, Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith took a vicious hit from Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. The league is reviewing the hit for a potential fine.
"I love Smitty," Sirianni said. "He is the toughest guy I know. You know how they say pound for pound? No, he's just the toughest guy I know. And so I love him and I obviously feel bad that happened."
Sirianni was also asked about Barkley's workload, as the new Eagles' running back has 63 carries and 10 receptions—73 touches—through his first three games with the team. The only other Eagles running back with a single touch this season is Kenneth Gainwell who has just three carries and three catches for 30 total yards.
"You do everything you can do to win each individual game," Sirianni said. "Can you imagine if we didn't give him the ball as many times as we did and we lost? Talking to Saquon how he's feeling, pulling back on him at practice so he's completely fresh."
