Philadelphia Eagles 23, Dallas Cowboys 9
Q. I had asked Jalen this, you've kind of figured out ways to win here without putting together a complete game, at least offensively. Do you think you can keep winning that way or are you going to have to figure it out and start getting this thing rolling a little bit better the second half of the season?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, we're going to have to figure some things out. Obviously we're happy and excited with the win and all of that, you know, but yeah, we've got some things we've got to figure out here, you know, in the next week.
Q. Obviously it's a positive to go into the bye on a winning note. From your perspective as an offensive play caller, when you see that many turnovers, what does it do to you in this situation, even though you have that positive of a win, but you have those teaching moments, so to speak?
COACH PEDERSON: Well, listen, we understand and we can't turn the ball over, bottom line. We can't turn the ball. We're too good. We have got too much responsibility for everybody, me included, that, you know, we've just got to take ownership of it. We can't do the things that we're doing in order to really survive in this league.
We've got to get better. We've got to fix it. We've got to fix it in a hurry. We've got a chance to sit back and look at the first eight games and evaluate and try to come away with some whys. But we just can't keep turning the ball over and shooting ourselves in the foot, things we've got to clean up in the second half of the season.
Q. Defensively, T.J. Edwards came up pretty big, and you got a lot of big turnovers and sacks and everything. How much did the defense have to help you out in order to pull this out tonight?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, my hat's off to the defense, they played extremely well. Held them to nine points, three field goals, and just really did an outstanding job. Scored on defense. Played tough. Got after the quarterback. Really a complete game defensively, and you know, it was really exciting to see and something we've got to carry into the second half of the season.
Q. You guys went for it twice on fourth down in the second quarter there. Can you take us through the thought process?
COACH PEDERSON: Well, the first one, opportunity, just missed on the protection. Didn't execute. Failed to execute there.
I think we -- QB sneak I think on the other one; that the other one, Brett? QB sneak we got.
And then I think I punted on another one. So again that's an area that we'll look at this week, study that and see how we can improve.
Q. Carson on the first interception threw in the double coverage obviously in the red zone. Why is this something that he keeps on doing?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, you know, we can't turn the ball over. We understand that. He knows that. We're in a position to put points on the board and just, you know, can't do that.
We've just got to keep working, right. Got to keep detailing our work and keep coaching and get it corrected.
Q. As a follow-up to that, what was the conversation with Carson on the sideline and was there ever consideration to pulling him after the fourth turnover?
COACH PEDERSON: The conversation was, you know, again, explaining that just, hey, we can't do that. We're in a position to put points on the board and continue a drive if we just throw the ball away and that's something that we've got to learn from.
And no, there was never any of that conversation to pull him.
Q. Other teams seem to have been able to attack this defense without making things as complicated as you guys seem to make them sometimes tonight. What did you see? Why were there so many trick plays and so many seemingly, you know, plays that took a long time to develop, a lot of time Carson back in the pocket, looking around? What was that all about in your view?
COACH PEDERSON: It was about trying to win the game. That's what it was about.
Q. Do you think part of the issue with Carson just putting too much pressure on himself at times trying to think, I've got to do something here, I've got to make a play, I've got to create, I've got to be a playmaker?
COACH PEDERSON: I think, you know, there's times I think he probably feels that way. Probably a better question for Carson.
But, you know, we also continue to coach and hey, you've got to trust the guys around you. Just execute the offense and all that. But I do feel like at times there might be some opportunities where he feels like he's got to take it upon himself. And you know, that's just who he is. That's his -- that's the aggressive nature and his demeanor and you know, I love having the ball in his hands. He's also a great playmaker for us, and I never want to, you know, pull that ball out of his hand.
Q. I'm sure fans are going to come away watching that game happy with the win but concerned about some of the things we've already talked about tonight. How do you view it generally? Can you enjoy it as much as any other win?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, a win in this league is a win, man. They are hard to come by. There's never a pretty win. There's never an ugly win. A win's a win. We've got to start stacking them together.
You know, guys are excited in the locker room. We know we've got to play better. We're also optimistic we are get some players back here in the second half of the season that can help us and try to get back to full strength.
But it was good to get the guys back tonight that were out there, and go into this bye, get healthy and see what happens.
Q. How do you think Carson played, and do you think he needs a bye? I mean, a compressed preseason, lots of hits, lots of responsibility, lots of injuries, do you think he could maybe use a break?
COACH PEDERSON: I can use a break, Marcus. And according to you, I kept my job tonight.
Q. You might have me confused with somebody else there, Doug.
COACH PEDERSON: Oh.
Q. Do you think Carson could use a break?
COACH PEDERSON: I think this is a good time for all of us, honestly. Where we are as the health of the football team, it's a chance for the coaches to go back and study the first eight games and see where we can improve in all three areas. It's a chance for the players to get rested and healthy and, you know, got eight games left. Opportunity right in front of us still. Goals are still right in front of us.
You know, as I said, we get some players back and try to get back to full strength and see what happens. Just take them one at a time. This is a good time for this team to take a bye, yes.
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