PHILADELPHIA (AP) — With the National League title won and a bye week ahead, Eagles coach Nick Siriani has basically called a snow day: Everyone stays home on Monday. Players and coaches, relax. There is a possibility of a long after grinding period ahead.
No thanks, said Galen Hurtz.
Right after the Eagles sealed a 14-win season, Pro Bowl QB asked Siriani if they could get back to work.
Siriani said Hortz told him, “Let’s go see some tape.”
So Siriani said Monday morning on his weekly radio show on WIP-FM that he was heading to the team compound later in the day to do some film work with Hurts and two of his assistants. Hurts can’t let the game go, especially after missing the previous two with a sprained right shoulder.
Hurts’ post-game celebration of all the Eagles had accomplished did not last long.
“I can’t say I’m going to smile until the job is done,” he said.
The Eagles don’t know what team they’ll face or what day they’ll play the following weekend. But it’s pretty certain: The Eagles are NFC East champions, clinched the top seed in the conference and owned the home court advantage in the playoffs.
Oh, and they should have more healthy mischief.
“I have no doubts that he has to be the best player in this league,” Siriani said on Webb.
The Eagles went 14-1 with Hurts as the starter. They were 0-2 without him.
The 24-year-old Hurts—who was 17-1 in his last 18 regular season starts—finished with 3,701 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, 760 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in only his second season as a starter. The Eagles basically put the playbook into bubble wrap for a 22-16 win over the Giants and used a vanilla offense designed to keep Hurts safe. They didn’t need him at his best on Sunday – but they’ll do the rest of the way.
Hurts still carries the weight of its poor play in last season’s loss in Tampa Bay. He threw two interceptions and was just 23-of-43 for 258 yards in the 31-15 loss. The Eagles were surprisingly a playoff team then after a 2-5 start. A year later, it became the Super Bowl or the statuette.
“I just know we have a lot going for us, so I’m eager to get back to work and continue to grow with these guys,” Hurtz said. “I challenge everyone in this dressing room to not only hold themselves accountable but also hold the men next to them accountable. Coaches, coaches, cleaners, everyone.
what to do
What a year for the wide receivers.
AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith should be considered the best duo in franchise history. The Browns set the single-season franchise record with 1,496 receiving yards, surpassing the record set by Mike Quick in 1983 (1,409). Smith finished his second NFL season with 95 catches, the most in team history (Irving Fryer had 88 catches in 1996). Smith’s 95 receptions trailed only Zack Ertz’s 116 in 2018 for the most in a season.
“It was great. I feel like we’re still getting started,” Brown said. “We’ll be here together for a while.”
(And yes, it should be noted that those records were set in 17 games of the season.)
why not
The potential NFL season record may have been in their heads and they tried hard, but whatever the reason, the Eagles failed to unseat QB Davis Webb in his first career start. The Eagles finished with 70 sacks, two shy of the 1984 Chicago Bears’ record of 72 sacks.
storage
Jake Elliott has been pretty much an afterthought this season as the Eagles have treated the red zone as their TD playground. Elliott has been 15 out of 18 in goal attempts this season and has had three matches not trying. He kicked 13 extra points in those three games.
The Eagles didn’t count on Hurts to rush in short-hand situations Sunday, so Elliott got the call — and kicked five field goals.
Think of how often play-off matches are decided by a kick. Keeping Elliott sharp can only help in the postseason.
Keep in mind, Elliott hit all seven field goals in the playoffs during the Eagles’ Super Bowl winning season.
Low stock
Brett Kern was not the answer to the injured Arjen Sipos. He had a 29-yard touchdown against the Giants.
injuries
CJ Gardner-Johnson, who has six interceptions, returned after missing five games with a torn kidney. The Eagles are hoping Lin Johnson can make a comeback in the postseason from a torn closer he suffered in a Dec. 24 loss to Dallas.
key number
10 – The Eagles will have the No. 10 pick from the draft (in addition to their own pick, to be determined later) thanks to a pre-season trade with the Saints. The Eagles and Saints traded eight draft spots combined last year – and Philadelphia earned the #1 spot for New Orleans 2023.
next steps
The Eagles will battle it out at Lincoln Financial Stadium against the lowest remaining seed from Tampa Bay, Dallas, New York or Seattle in the Divisional Round.
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