Saints 20, Eagles 10
Q. Nick, in the locker room what did say to the guys after the game?
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, our goal from the very beginning has just always been about taking it one day at a time, trying to go 1-0 each day, an attempt to go 1-0 this week, and this week obviously it was disappointing what we did today. Coaching, playing, everything.
But next week we'll have a chance to win the division title at home.
Q. Why did the offense perform so poorly?
NICK SIRIANNI: I think you got to give credit obviously to that defense. That's a good, well-coached defense with good players. Obviously we didn't put the players in good enough positions to succeed. We didn't execute well enough.
So it's always going to be those two things. Obviously I'm going to have to watch the tape and see what's going on, but there was no -- we didn't really have a rhythm going in that first half. I think we had three three-and-outs or whatever, how many three-and-outs there was.
In one of them we got way behind the sticks and just when you're not converting on third down, it's hard to convert on the one that was third and forever, but when you're not converting on third down and not getting drives sustained, it's hard to get in a rhythm, and that's exactly what happened when we didn't get a first down.
Again, why did what happen? Again, it's always going to be coaching, always going to be execution; and then obviously give them credit as well.
Q. What's the concern level that you guys aren't playing at your best right now?
NICK SIRIANNI: We'll take one day at a time. We're going to try to get better from this one right here. I don't get too high when we play a really good game; I don't get too low when we play a really bad game. We played a really bad game today offensively.
We'll just have to look and get better from it. Again, I'm not ever going to be somebody that is going to hit a panic button. We're going to double down on the things we think are true and that we know are true, and we're going to get better from this.
That's all we can do. I mean, we got to own what we just put out there and get better from it by owning and correcting the mistakes with great detail.
Q. How much do you think the bad holding call on Landon Dickerson affected the Eagles?
NICK SIRIANNI: It's never going to be about one play. Ever. It's never going to be about one guy. It's never going to be about one coach. It's never going to be about one play. A lot of plays that went into us not winning that football game.
First of all, again, credit to New Orleans. We didn't play a best game. I think that's known. Also, they prevented us from playing our best game.
So whether I thought that was a hold or wasn't a hold, that doesn't matter, and that's never going to be -- it's never just one play that defines a game.
Q. (Regarding Gardner's play today.)
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, obviously he's going to want plays back. We're all going to want plays back, right? And so I'll have to look at the tape right there. Obviously 23 made a good play on the interception in a critical time on that one.
I'll look at what that really looked like up close. I don't want to comment yet. Obviously wasn't Gardner's best game and it wasn't our best game as an offense. Not even close, right?
Gardner is capable of playing better and we're capable of coaching better and we are capable of playing better as an entire unit.
Q. Any word on Josh Sweat?
NICK SIRIANNI: I haven't. I haven't got any update there. Just haven't had a chance to talk about it yet. I think he's doing -- all I know is he's doing better. Bob, anything on that?
BOB: Positively he's going to be released tonight, so that's a positive thing. If we get anything further than that we'll let you know.
Q. Why accept a penalty instead of taking third and six on that first drive?
NICK SIRIANNI: The one that they ended up getting the third and short?
Q. Third and two.
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah. I wanted them to be in a little bit more of a down and distance second and long. Attempts to go to third and long; didn't work. When it doesn't work I got to own that. I understand that. I really do.
I'm not beating myself up about that call, but just trying to get them into third and long and see if we could get a stop on second and 12.
Q. Any update an Jalen's health since we talked to you Friday and do you think he'll play?
NICK SIRIANNI: He was close this week. Obviously we will take it one day at a time. I mean, for me to say right now and today that, yeah, Jalen is playing or, no, he is not playing I don't think is fair to anybody, because so many things can happen in a week.
We're going to have to evaluate and see where he is. Nothing changes in that aspect of it. His health is the No. 1 priority, not putting him in a position that is going to risk his health.
And so we'll evaluate that as the week goes. Obviously if he's ready to go, he'll play.
Q. If you do get Jalen back, what's it going to mean?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I mean, Jalen has been playing obviously really good football the entire year and he's one of our better players. He's a leader of our football team.
So it would -- again, we'll see what happens. Obviously be good to have him back just because of the type of person and the type of leader he is.
Q. If he's medically cleared to play, will he play?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, if Jalen is able to go, he'll go.
Q. On the QB sneak, what went wrong there?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, there was a mess of bodies in there that is pretty typical on that play. You know, we been pretty darn successful on that play this year, and didn't work out on that particular one.
I'm going to have to look at that, because there was just so many guys in the box. But give them credit. They stopped it and they made a play and we didn't.
Q. ...most of the season for you obviously. With Gardner you've had some setbacks. How humbling can the NFL be?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, sure, you always -- I mean, you always understand that -- that's why you never want to get too up and you don't want to get too down.
We're here now. We're 13-3 right now with a chance to go 14-3 next week to win the division. All our goals are in front of us. Any time you lose a game, any time you don't perform the way you think you should perform you're going to be upset, humbled, but that's not a bad thing.
You go back to work and you get better from it.
Q. On not having Lane and I think there was six offensive line penalties. How much does what factor in?
NICK SIRIANNI: I'll have to look at what happened with some of the false starts. You know, we'll have to look at what happened there, if it was a miscommunication or whatnot.
But any time you lose a guy like Lane, obviously same thing we talked about with Jalen, that's the way this game is. We felt like we have good depth, that guys are ready to play. We'll look at the tape and see how they played, but obviously you always are going to miss guys that are the best at their position in the NFL.
That's never an excuse. We got guys that we really believe in. We'll go out there, and whoever needs to play next week will go out there, and we'll try to put them in the best positions to make plays and I'm confident we will.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports