Eagles 40, Packers 33
Q. Nick, on the first drive Jalen had a couple huge scrambles there. I think they were both 20-plus yard gains. Seeing that early maybe think that you should change the game plan to something that was more run heavy? Was that something you were trying to do going in?
NICK SIRIANNI: No. I mean, we obviously got a game plan going in to see what we're going to do. That's why you plan and go through it all week. Those plays that he makes off schedule, those are bonuses, right, so you still have your plan that you want to do and get to and that you want to do.
So it just kind of happened that he had some big yards off schedule. That's what Jalen does. That's where he's special, really special, is he can make those plays with his feet. To be in a city like this with the quarterback history that this city has, you know, and that he set a record for most yards by a quarterback rushing is pretty special. That's some unbelievable names that he's following there.
Q. Kind of felt bad for those guys, all those guys on defense getting hurt while you're running your offensive plays. Feel bad for them?
NICK SIRIANNI: Hey, you know, no comment.
Q. Nick, did you realize it? Like it was like a track meet out there probably for them the way you guys were...
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, and guys are going to -- when you're going fast and things like that, guys -- and it was hot out there, too. Way hotter so cramp happen and injuries happen. I get it.
Q. (Regarding the defense's performance.)
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, they were able to create some turnovers, which was really big in the first half. We were able to hit Aaron Rodgers, and we needed to, because he's an unbelievable player, outstanding football player, so we needed to be able to hit him and get to the quarterback, because we know we have the guys, too.
What I was disappointed in the first half is that the offense and the special teams put the defense in some short situations. One was my fault. Didn't get it on fourth down and I went for it. Then the other one we had a fumble, and then the special teams one.
So all their possessions in the first half, they didn't have to go the long way. With Aaron Rodgers, you don't want to give him any short fields, and we gave him three and they made us pay for it. I thought we played much better in the second half minus the big play we gave up to Christian Watson. He can really roll.
What I was more upset with was the position we were putting the defense in.
Now, we got stop them and create four-point plays down there on third down in the red zone. Rodgers made a really good play to Aaron Jones on that scramble. I don't know if that was third down or not. You guys could help me out with that.
It was second and 20? So he got them out of a bind there. That's what I was more disappointed in.
Q. You mentioned fourth and one. On third and one the seemed like the overhead view of the camera showed that maybe Jalen got it. Did you...
NICK SIRIANNI: Well, yeah, I did not, and so those are hard, too and every time out is precious, right? We have to really feel confident that we'll win that if we challenge it. We just didn't in that particular case.
You know, and there is things, like obviously I'm not seeing that and I'm trusting my eyes upstairs. They've been great all year and so I trust what they say. I think I'm getting good information from them.
And of course sometimes, right, we don't know exactly where the knee was and maybe it looks like we got it but can you tell with where he's down and everything like that. I love the guys upstairs. They're giving me great information, and then I went for it the next play with a very similar play and it didn't work, and we put the defense in a tough spot because of my decision.
Q. On Jake Elliott's 54-yard field goal, was any hesitation there? (They announced in the press box - indiscernible.)
NICK SIRIANNI: They did?
Q. Yeah.
NICK SIRIANNI: No, no, because -- no hesitation. Arryn is the holder, so I don't know if that's what they -- we got to get on our press box guy, because I was going with Jake the whole time.
Q. Thanks, Ed.
NICK SIRIANNI: I was going with Jake the whole time. That's what -- when you have a kicker like Jake Elliott, you trust him to make those situations, make those kicks in those situations.
And he drilled it. That's why he is who he is. That's why he's our kicker. That's why he's done so many of the things he's done in this league. We have so much faith in him. That was a huge kick to go up ten, two scores in that scenario is enormous. And operation by the entire field goal unit, Arryn, by Rick.
But there was no hesitation. We know where we feel comfortable before the game. Our special teams coaches do a good job of communicating that with me, of where we feel comfortable, where Jake feels comfortable, and Jake is always going to say, hey, I got a couple more yards than what they even told you there. Jake has great confidence, and that gives you great confidence as a coach when your kicker has that much confidence.
Q. Was there any common theme you thought between some of the long returns the Packers had tonight?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I'm going to have to watch that. Obviously probably were out of our lanes. How does that happen? You get out of your lanes. Somebody makes a mistake here or there. We got to just flat out coach it better.
So we're all in this together, so I have to look at it. Obviously that's an issue that we can't have, that we have three returns like that that they get to mid-field. That guy is a good returner, but we just can't put ourselves in that position and put our defense in that position.
We got to get it fixed. We'll do everything we can to get it fixed. But I can't tell you yet what the common theme is, but we'll work like crazy to let you know tomorrow.
Q. Speaking of common themes, I don't know, you probably got asked about the running game, so sorry. Coming in late.
NICK SIRIANNI: I don't think I have yet.
Q. When you're doing it that well, the quarterback has a career high, the running back has a career high.
NICK SIRIANNI: Was Miles Sanders a career high, too?
Q. Yeah.
NICK SIRIANNI: Oh, good.
Q. You almost set a franchise record.
NICK SIRIANNI: How close were we?
Q. 15 yards away. (?)
NICK SIRIANNI: Is that right? That's sweet. They'll get a game ball.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, super game ball.
Q. Do you get a feel in-game of that?
NICK SIRIANNI: Oh, sure. Yeah, you feel that. You feel that -- I mean, I love when Lane Johnson comes off the field and is juiced up. He's crushing the edge or crushing the combination block with Isaac, so you feel that from the players.
You obviously feel that in the flow of the game, and that's where Shane and I are in constant communication. He's doing a great job getting the plays called, and I might say to him during that drive, hey, run it again, run it again, run it again, because you feel that, right? And so that, man, that was special. That was a special game running.
Obviously we got some off schedule things, too, right, with Jalen making big plays. I don't know how many were off scrambles, how many yards with his were off scrambled, but we sure as heck got a lot of big plays from him on that.
But you definitely feel that in the game and you feel that when the players come off the field and you feel it mid-drive and you feel it when you're down in the red zone, all those different things.
So Shane did a good job calling it. Obviously our players, man, this is an unbelievable offensive line. Jack Stoll coming in and blocking his butt off.
When you rush for that many yards the receivers are doing their part as well, and so good just team-run offense today.
And third down too. You know, third down, like some big rungs on third down. Those were huge, huge, huge, huge, huge third down runs.
Q. At what point in the off season or in training camp did you really start to really notice Reed?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, you know, couple of the guys that I coached with in Indy were at Middle Tennessee State. When we signed him to rookie free agent deal they said, this guy is a stud. You don't understand this guy. We love this guy. This guy, one of them was Parks Frazier. Man, you don't understand how special that kid was for us.
And then I saw -- like we did something, like our last pre-season game and he was like a five-year starter. His stat line was unbelievable. You noticed him early and then you -- here is where you really noticed him. I'm glad you asked this question.
When we went live with our young guys, because we went live and you guys saw it, we went live pretty much once a day with the young guys. When we had pads on. Just seemed like every time he was coming up and making tackles. We liked him without pads on and now we really like him when he's able to show his physicality out on the field.
So I think that's where we really start talking about him more and more and more.
And so, yeah, that was a big time play. Then he made some big time tackles, and he did that --and I'm thinking about it in the Miami game. We got whooped in the Miami pre-season game, but some of the tackles he was making in that game, and it was on display in training camp and in pre-season games.
Q. Can you address the decision making by Jalen tonight? His stat line, a lot of smart throwaways. Also, can you address him sort of rising to the moment, Sunday Night Football, Aaron Rodgers in the house; one of the better games he's had in his short career.
NICK SIRIANNI: That's who Jalen is. I don't think he's fazed by any of the moments. I thought he made great decisions out there. Obviously I will have to go look at all the plays. Probably 12:10, probably do that this tonight. It's going to be hard to go to sleep after one like that. I'll go grade the tape and see his decisions, but I thought he made really good decisions.
He's got great ideas coming off the sideline. I think we can get to that, I think we can get to that. When he does that, we really trust him. We really trust, because he's seeing it really well.
So I just think that's the next step he's taking, he is being able to tell us on the field what he's seeing, what he likes, and go out and execute and us trusting him, because he's got a lot of money in the bank with us, right, of like, hey, every time he comes out and tells us that he makes it work when he does it.
And so I think that's a big part of the decision making and the big next step of the decision making. But, yeah, he had a special game tonight. Really special game tonight.
Q. ...importance of the versatility of the offense when you're looking at your scheme, what you want it to be, and how much of the off-season was spent making it more that based upon...
NICK SIRIANNI: Sure, you never want to be one dimensional in anything. You'll do whatever you got to do to win that game. Shoot, I would be lying if I said Jalen was going to rush for -- we said earlier this week that Jalen was going to rush for 150 yards. So you get the flow of the game, but you never want to be one dimensional.
I think we've shown we can win throwing the football. I think we've shown we can win running the football offensively. That's important, because in the playoffs you have to do both. In the playoffs -- when you want to go where you want to go, you got to be able to do both. You want to win big games, you got to do both.
So that's important. So to win big games you have to be able to run and throw the ball and can't be one dimensional. I think that's what we've been able to do.
Q. When Jalen breaks off those long runs, how much does that help the passing game? Still threw two touchdown passes tonight...
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I think that's big because it forces the defense to have to take one of their coverage guys and account for Jalen with it, right, or know where Jalen is at least, right?
So you give a little, you get a little, right? If you need to put another guy to make sure Jalen isn't getting loose, then that's one less guy in coverage. If I have to tell the defensive line not to rush a certain way because Jalen can be able to break out, then typically on that you're telling them don't just jet up the field because this guy is gonna get through the line of scrimmage and make a play.
So when teams do that, what happens there? Well, you have more time to throw the football. You have more time to sit back there and digest everything.
That's huge, right? The plays that he made with his feet will help us moving forward, him making plays in the pocket, and vice versa. That's why it's just a great team game and there is so much chess match going on right there that it's important that you don't limit yourself of what you do and the things you can accomplish out there.
So, yeah, he had a special game today.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports