Post-Game Show: Eagles Lose 20-14

city if it's not for Alshon Jeffrey. So obviously he's gonna be very disappointed, you know, But you saw the way the head coach Doug Peterson and corback Nick Foles and his teammates went over to him afterwards, you know, someone who gave so many big plays over the last two seasons. Obviously a difficult way for the season to come to a close. But again, this team doesn't get as far as it does without al Sjohn certainly a

valiant effort. You know. Everyone looks back to that forty eight to seven game back in week eleven and said there's no way the Eagles can go back to the Saints house, the huge advantage in the Superdome and make up that kind of deficit. But you know, the Eagles were up fourteen nothing and held this vaunted Saints offense prolific all season along to twenty points. You know, Nick Foles was appearing to lead them on another game winning

drive at the end. Unfortunately, Ladmore's second interception of the game ends the dream. So the Eagles season is over nine and seven in the regular season. They get a win in the postseason, but fall six points short today ike to the New Orleans Saints. Yeah. I mean, listen, a tough game. You knew it to be a hard fault game with the Eagles playing as well as they had played coming down to stretch, the Saints basically having

played a real game in about three weeks. So the game sort of played out like I thought I would from the beginning. I thought the Saints would come out a little rusty, certainly thought the Eagles would be charged up. They were able to take advantage of that early Saints rust, but not really able to sustain it. Once the Saints were able to collect themselves and start to get a little bit of rhythm, seemed like the Eagles couldn't get

anything going offensively. Just a difficult way for the season to end, but a valiant effort from this team to put themselves in this position. Al Sean Jeffrey, who has been so reliable all season long, big part of why this team is where they were today. Certainly he would like to have that pass back. No need to hang his head. No one feels worse than al Sean Jeffrey does right now, and all of his teammates certainly feel for him. So just a tough loss. Gotta tip your

cap to the Saints. They are a good football team, listen to The Eagles have been playing with their backs against the wall for about a month and a half and it's difficult. And this is why most teams from a six seed don't make it to the super Bowl, because when you battle to get into the playoffs, and there's much energy and effort that you have to exert to dig yourself out of a hole. When you're facing a team like the Saints, there's basically been sitting back, resting,

waiting for to day. They've been waiting for today for about a month since they clinched the number one seed and knew that they would have home field advantage. They've been waiting for today, and so the Eagles have exerted a lot of energy to put themselves in this position and they basically it ran out of gas today. They ran up against a very good Saints team. They were gamed. The Eagles were gamed today. They just basically ran out

of gas offensively. Give the Saints a lot of credits the defense that has played well coming down the stretch. I thought the Eagles defense came into this game with a very good game plan. But listen, Michael Thomas, one of the best receivers in the game. We know about Drew Brees. He's a Hall of Famer five years after he plays his last game. Just a tough way, tough way. But they found themselves in position and to lose the game basically off a tip ball on the final drive

of the game. Man, that's a that's a heartbreaker. That's a heartbreaker. But how can you not be proud of the team's over effort to sort of put themselves in this position. Nobody gave them a chance, and then you look at the course of the game, it's great. They got fourteen and nothing. But then you look at the defensive side of the football. Fletcher Cox in now the line up due to injuries, Brandon Graham has to go to the sidling at one point, Rossel Douglas in the line,

Vonte Maddox has to come out of the game. You're just wondering how many more injuries can the defense sustain, especially with Fletcher Cox your best player on that side of the ball, and arguably that your best player on the entire team. Okay, the heart and soul especially of that defense. Knowing that you had to limit this explosive Saints offense. You're gonna need to get pressure up the middle. And Cox gained his way coming back into the lineup,

fighting his way. Remember the one time he came back into the game after suffering the foot injury. Initially he

drew a holding pounce on the very first play. Okay, so he made a number of disruptive plays the defensive line, knowing that Jim Schwartz wanted to play seven defenders back, going with mostly the diamond nickel personnel throughout the course of the game, knowing that we have to rely on that front four and look, Mike Bennett, Chris Long, you know, Brandon Graham, you guys gotta play a lot of snaps, okay, you know, and especially when you had that long drive

in the third quarter that took it eighteen plays, wasn't It was an eighteen play drive, okay, that goes for ninety two yards eleven twenty nine in terms of game clock, I think it was about twenty five minutes at real time. So again, eighteen play drive. Those guys are bound at the end, but they got the stop they need at the very end. They forced Will Lets to attempt at fifty two yard field goal after Michael Bennett gets a

tackle for loss. Huge play okay, shoves mac Nier the center right into the back there, forces Kamara to get the loss there. Will Lutz pushes the ball wide right, and you said to yourself, is this going to happen again? Yeah, another special teams play, another miss field goal. Here, given an opportunity for the Eagles to sustain their season, to keep things alive, and it seemed like Nick Foles was getting into the rhythm. They had the penalty, the roughing

the passer call, they kept the drive alive. Zach Ertz had to play there to move the sticks and then you thought, okay, wide open pass alshon Jeffrey, and you know he's a guy who's gonna come up with that ninety nine times out one hundred and nine times out of town, whatever you want to say. Unfortunately, that's the one time that he doesn't come up with it and

the ball goes into the hands of Marshall Lamber. That's the problem is the ball goes up in the air and at that point it's fate that putting it right in the Saints hands. And Marshall Lamoor who really turned the game earlier in the second quarter when the Eagles were driving already up fourteen and nothing and Nick Foles has Zacher's on the wheel route down the left sideline. Okay, that's probably a touchdown. If he puts a little farther out, Yeah,

you gotta make that, gotta make the throw there. But Marshall Lamore does great job, come up with the interception, okay, and that really turned to tide. Okay, then the Saints are coming back. They're getting twenty unanswered points there to finish off the win here twenty to fourteen. And then, of course, on the real key in that in that first half, there was when the Saints have the fourth down, really it's the third down, Butcher Box draws the holding penalty. Okay,

the Eagles decided to decline. It's fourth and shorts, as they should, and that's the biggest thing a lot. Doug Pearson, when we hear from him in a few minutes, it is probably gonna be asked, did you kai waver about the decision? I thought he made the right call because with this defense, I'm not giving the ball back to Drew Brees. We saw this time and time again on third and long situations. I'm not giving Drew Brees another

opportunity with Michael Thomas. Michael Thomas Michael side fishing with twelve catches one hundred and seventy one yards on a touchdown. Okay, so I'm not giving Drew Brees another chance. It's fourth to George and the Eagles were well aware of what Taysom Hill and the fake punch possibility. The starting defense is out there on the field. You have your starting defense personnel lined up to stop it. Taysom Hill gets the first down to be able to move the chains,

and then fourth and goal. You figure Sean Payton was like the knew I did. I think Sean Payne, I think realized this Eagles team came to play. This was not the Eagles team very very first play the game. Okay, Ted Ginn, who has been out of the lineup due to injury. Dubrees goes deep down the middle for him, trying to test the Eagles secondary. Crave On the Blanc, who had an outstanding game as when we talk about the bright spots of this season. Crave On the Blanc

comes up with the interception to set the tone. Okay, three toll tackles. The interception also saved a touchdown on a mark Ingram run. Later on in the game, when it was starting to look like the Saints had control of the game. They did have control of the game, it would look like they were ready to put the game away, crave On le Blanc was not going to

allow them to get the easy touchdown there. So right there, you say yourself, craive On the Blank gets the interception, gets the Eagles the ball, and they go down the field and the Jordan Matthews over the top for the touchdown with Nick Foles, and you said to yourself, this is what the Eagles needed. Because back on November eleven

or No. Eight November eighteenth. In at Week eleven showdown, I should say the Saints got seventeen and nothing in the second quarter, scored on their first three drives, gained over two hundred yards on those drives. The game was over. Okay, in the second quarter. Here the Eagles are able to get the fourteen nothing lead because they get the ball back and then Nick Foles goes in from one yard out and the QB sneak. They're up fourteen nothing. This

was the start that the Eagles needed. Okay. The thing was the Saints a tested team, a veteran team. Okay, Drew Brees and Sean Payton together at home down in the playoffs six and oh since two thousand and six when the two were first united together, they knew what they were doing. It's a veteran team with plenty of skill position talent on offense and a very very good defense that was able to turn the tide on the Eagles offense and really limit the Eagles of what they

could do. I thought Nick Foles missed a couple of throws. There were plays there to be had. Okay, I thought the one knock about Nick Foles today a number of underthrown passes. Yeah, that's probably the one thing I would say. But the offensive line, even after losing Brandon Brooks, and that's gonna be something that's gonna be huge. Jason Peters came out of the game late. Yes, I had to go back in there. So the pass protection held up nicely. Okay,

that was the one thing you were concerned about. Would Nick Foles have time in pocket, even though it does a great job to get rid of the ball quickly. Would he'd be comfortable in the pocket. He just wasn't able to quit get in that rhythm. Yeah, but offensive line a great job protective put Nick Foles after that second touchdown drive just not able to get in that same rhythm that he was. I created the same defense there for playing great press coverage. Okay. You know Eli Apple,

Marshawn Lattimore, those fast linebackers. They were testing the Eagles receivers and pass catchers and limiting the yards after the catch. Yeah, that's basically what they decided to do. They saw in the first quarter that they weren't able to get the pressure on Nick Foles that they wanted to. You had the cornerbacks playing off and Nick was able to basically pick him apart. He had the best stretch of the game.

In that first quarter. He was basically, I think he was eight of eight or eight of nine one hundred and twenty seven yards, threw a touchdown as well as rushed in for a touchdown. But then they decided we're gonna back off or we're gonna jam the receivers at the line of scrimmage to try to disrupt the timing. And when you look at the big difference in this game and this Eagles offense is they struggled on third down. Two for seven on third down is where they struggled.

That to me, that was really the biggest difference in the game. You know, the Eagles, since they've been on this stretch, they've been able to be fifty percent plus on third down, extending drives, wearing teams out, wearing teams down, and that's how they won football games. Today, they weren't able to extend drives after that first quarter. They had to two seventy yard play drives early and then after that they didn't really have anything else after that, and

that's where they basically were worn down. Defense on the field way too long. Saints offense eight to fifteen on third down, able to extend those drives. You talked about that ninety two yard drive or was it eighteen plays? Eighteen plays ninety two yards twice the same to the second and twenty yeah, second and twenty twice. Three third down conversions on the drive, third and three, third and one short conversion. But a third and ten. That's what they wore you down at. I mean, that's what they

wore this defense down at basically today. And the offense not being able to win that time of possession. That's how you beat the Saints. You keep that offense on the sideline, and we weren't really able to do that today. I thought our defense they held in there as long as they could. They made the Saints chew up clock. They didn't give up a ton of big plays. Now,

he gave up the third down conversions. But to hold this Saints offense to twenty points, I mean going into the game, that's what you want, that's what you want. You want this to be a game in the fourth quarter, a one possession game to me, from a game plan standpoint, the Eagles. The game played out exactly how they wanted to, even with them having the ball on the final drive, it's just, you know, the bounce didn't go their way. You know, that ball bounces off al Sean Jeffrey's hands

right into Marshon Lattimore's hands. And it's unfortunate, man, because I felt like they were going down to win this game. I really did. You've seen this, Yeah, I felt like they were going to win this. You know, it goes back to last week against Chicago. You just feel a certain sort of like Nick Foles in the pocket. You just feel a sense of calm, knowing that when he's in command at quarterback, they're gonna find a wet and you just felt like this team was gonna find a

way once again. And they were moving the ball down the field. You know, it was wide open past there to Jeffrey. Good throw on the hands, just didn't come up with it. Okay. And again, I'm sure a lot of fans, and I'm sure on your show tomorrow Marks of Resports Radio nine for WAP, a lot of people are gonna be bashing out Sean. No, you think that, I don't know, I'm such gonna frustration. I don't know.

I don't know, you know what I think, at least from listening to the fans this week, right, there was already trepidation going into this game. There was. I'm sure it's a tough game. So at least the tone that I got from most of the fans was they were excited the Eagles made it this far. Um middle of the season didn't look like it was going to get to this point. This team really dug in deep. They they they were able to make something out of a season that looked like it was lost. We lost our

starting quarterback once again. And I think this fan base, at least after winning that Super Bowl last years, it's funny to say they aren't as rabid of a fan base as they used to be. Can they be passionate? Can they be frustrated? Sure they can, But I think there's a sense of appreciation about this team that this fan base has and they don't. It hasn't been that long since they won the Super Bowl, and so we all knew it was going to be difficult to repeat.

No one has done it since the Patriots dated back and oh four against us. It was going to be difficult. This team overcame a lot to get to the second round of the playoffs, and al Sean has been a

big part of that this year especially. Yeah, I'm actually, Chris, I'm actually, I'm actually proud of our fan base that I don't believe there'll be a lot of frustration over the way the season ended, as much as it will be a lot of appreciation, but the way the team didn't give up and really fall to the very end, this team, in a lot of ways, epitomized the city

of philadel Yeah. Yeah, I think I think this fan base recognizes that, certainly because they knew that it wasn't you know, we can get into your season takeaways and just it wasn't quite right from about midway through the season. Okay, it wasn't that same magic that we were gonna have in twenty seventeen. I mean, basically, the Eagles were the Saints a year ago. Yeah, okay, in terms of the fact that the Saints were clearing away one of the best teams in the NFC all season along the home

field advantage. You know, you saw the dancing and the joy that they were having throughout the course of the game. That was the Eagles a year ago. Okay, the Eagles were blowing out opponents left and right, you know, steamrolling through the competition, and then they were the ones who got to enjoy home field advantage and wait for the Atlanta Falcons to come into town for that first playoff matchup, and right from there you go into the Super Bowl.

The difference, of course, is what were we going to get from Nick Foles? Okay, because the Saints have had the constant and Drew Brees throughout this entire time time. The Eagles, you know, get into the playoffs to get the home field advantage with Nick Foles coming in there late in the season, but you didn't quite know if he was gonna be able to carry them on that

magical run that he did. And after he did that a year ago, you said to yourself, I guess the cards could be in place, the stars could be aligned for it to happen again, because you got into the way you did on the last day of the regular season. But as you said, it's why six seeds don't typically advance that far into the playoffs. You have your you know, one offs here and there. The Green Bay Packers and New York Giants have won the Super Bowl as a

six seed. But it's so difficult because, as you said, most likely you're battling just to get into the playoffs, and then once you're in, you're on the road NonStop every game. Yet and you had to go to Chicago to face the number one defense was hard. You know, amazing home field advantage there. You get the dome field advantage today and we saw that firstand where the Eagles were forced to take a time out early in the

second half. Okay, you know, false start by Isaac say a model there and the you know second down that was huge coming out of the locker room. Not really getting any momentum coming out of the locker room was big time. The Saints were able to continue to feed

off of that crowd. I thought, coming out of the locker room, if the Eagles could at least have a drive, even if they don't get points out of the drive, but if they could just put together a drive where they have the Saints defense on their heels to sort of establish some type of confidence and momentum, we would

have a different ball game. In the second half. As it was, Eagles come out and they sort of a snake bidden and they sort of have these self inflicted wounds and that crowd is able to get into the game. You get a three and out, Saints get the ball, and you're behind the eight ball again. So it was just it was just you know, when you're on the road, you almost have to play a perfect game. I mean you really do. You almost have to play a perfect game.

That's why teams fight so hard to get home field advantage, because even if you get off to a slow start, you have your crowd to sort of i on, to sort of feed off of. And that's what the Saints were able to do. They got on to a slow start, but that crowd kept them in the game, and once they started to get a little bit of positivity going, they were able to build some momentum and get that crowd behind them and so us it's just difficult. The

Eagles really had the ideal start. It's just unfortunate. You look at numbers. I mean when you see the numbers there in the box score there, you look at them and you say yourself, how was this even a six point game? It's because the Eagles had, like you said, the start that they need to put that what you want, Yeah, it was a dream scenario to come out of the gates lead fourteen nothing at the end of the first core driving to actually extend the lead. And as you mentioned,

you've got to be much sharper on the road. And we saw the Eagles get away with some turnovers last week in Chicago that they weren't able to you know, the Bears didn't make them pay for it the Saints, and you knew that with Drew Brees, that that was the biggest thing. Where last week you're going against first

time playoff quarterback in Mitchell Trubisky. Were games on the line of foul, drive, brisk and give creg got the Bears in position to win the game, they missed the kick or a Treyvon Hester BLOCKDA should say, but here, you knew that Drew Brees in that dome was gonna be very, very difficult to stop there. So as we started to reflect upon what the Eagle were able to accomplish here in twenty and eighteen, why don't we get into your takeaways? Sorry, First and foremost with how the

Eagles overcame a slow start. They got the win on opening night against Atlanta. You know, it was an amazing crowd, vibrant energy, the banner goes up, but after that they're humbled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They win in Carson Wentz his first start of the season, comes back from the acl LCL injuries, you know, beats the Indianapolis Colts

to get them to two and one. Then that Tennessee game, the loss in overtime kind of started things on a downward trend where you started to wonder, like we said earlier, whether the team would even make the playoffs. Yeah, I mean we we had a chance to find out what

it was like to have sort of a Super Bowl hangover. Right, We've never known what it was like to be Super Bowl champions in through and all season celebration of adulation, of being padded on the back and everything, as it was well deserved, it's tough to sort of get out of that malaise. It's it's tough to sort of have that same hunger and determination and focus coming in the

training camp. And the Eagles found that out firsthand. Not only that they had to they had to overcome who was going to be at the quarterback position to start the season off. Was it going to be Nick Foles, Was it going to be Carson Wentz who was fighting diligently to get back on the field to join his teammates and sort of help them defend this championship crown. And you saw it early in the season where it

was just choppy, inconsistent play. They looked good one week, then they found a way to lose games the following week, not being able to put together consecutive wins into the second half of the season versus the Giants and the red Skins. They really had a tough time overcoming that slow start, but they were able to do it all. We're gonna say it now to the super dumb head coach Doug Pearson about to address the media there following the Eels twenty to fourteen lost. Let's hear from the

head coach, change anything just now? Not really. I think I think it's I think it's it's a credit to them obviously, but you see, I think sometimes how you know, um, just the ebb and flow of a game. Um, and uh, you know, they they got some breaks in there. We know we we we were moving the ball again. I mean I think you know we had the we had the turnover that throwed a zacher. It's up the sideline there that got got intercepted and just kind of momentum

change and went down and scored on that. And um, so nothing nothing that they did obviously. Um, we just we just didn't make the place to either stay on the field or you know, continue drives, execute and score field. It seemed like some are holding back here to seem like you were holding back hears. Can you describe like foot hold battles. Yeah, it's tough. It's tough because it's so final. You know, you're you're here at the end of the season. There's no more, no more football, you know,

for for twenty eighteen. And UM just told the guys, you know, just keeps your heads up and we we set out on a journey way back in OTAs and we keep talking about and having no regrets, you know, and leave everything out on the field. And they did that tonight. You know, they did that this afternoon, and um, they battled right to the end. We had we had opportunities.

So UM, proud of them, proud of the season, proud of the adversity that we faced all season long, and um, you know, found our way to get into the postseason. And uh, um, you know, just wish wish the Saints. Uh, you know, good luck going forward. It's hard. I mean it's really hard because he's so he's so down. But you know, for me, it's about staying positive and uh, listen, he's made many many big catches for us this season

and continue he will continue to do that. And I just told him he's gotta you know, he's got to keep his head up and and don't let one play to find you. You know, it's it's not who he is. He's he's too good of a player, and um, uh he needs to he needs to. He'll embrace it, you know, obviously, but uh, you know, and he'll be better for it. But I told him just to keep his head up

and keep keep playing. Um yeah, but so is that why he ran to play at that point, had plenty of time to get to the line of scrimmage and uh and get the playoff. I wanted to stay aggressive. Um just ran to play like two plays before when we tried to stick it there and hurts and um we have to roughen the pastor play. So it was a simple play got lined up and had plenty of time to think about. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's I'm sure we'll look at the tape and and

and uh, you know, evaluate that. But there's always throws you'd like to have back, uh in every game, you know. But I thought the way he hung in there and and battled and gave up, gave our offense a chance to go down and you know, possibly win this football game. So I thought overall, he played played pretty well. Yeah you felt you felt it a little bit, um, you know, but but we listen, we we had a lot of confidence even at that point. We felt like we're moving

the ball. We stayed and stayed in rhythm and um, no, I know, but but we felt even even on that drive, we felt like we could have um could have scored have we hit that play. But kind of changed after that point. And um, you know, again credit the Saints for for uh, you know, executing stretch. Yeah, I mean it's and it's you know, it's just it's hard stuff. Um, you know, those guys are uh, solid players or starters,

and and uh, it's unfortunate we lose. We lose those guys for you know, Brandon for the rest of the game, but those guys for periods of time. It's it's disruptive a little bit, but you know it's kind of been our season a little bit, you know, fighting, fighting through that adversity, and um, you know we did get them back, but credit them too for for playing through a little injury. That Yeah, I mean that's it's you know, you kind of expect it in that situations fourth and one, Um,

you know, you just gotta be prepared for that. And um, you know, again, just a great play by them in the game you were ready for. We've had our defense, our defense defense stay um calling so our you know, our defense was on the field sixteen. That was the one over the middle. Yeah, um, yeah, we're dropping his own and just um again you know, um, Drew did a good job just hanging on the football and letting

his guys get down the field. I mean it was just it was just just a window right there, you know, in the middle of field, and and uh got it and got the first down this season where it just seemed and then what brought me back to where relevant, Um,

the guys in that locker room. Um, you know, got a lot of trust, a lot of faith in those guys, my coaches, just um, you know, I just believing that we could, we could get ourselves in this position, you know, and and be in the postseason being you know it is it is one of our goals obviously, has to

be playing in January. And um, it's as I've set all season, a resilient group that you know, doesn't um waiver a whole lot you know, through adversity, um makes you tougher, makes you uh um, you know, battle that much harder. So those guys in the locker room really, um, you know, fought through that and and gave us the opportunity to be in this position. At that point, I mean I thought that we were we were, we were on our way, you know, we got that we got

to you know. Um, it just felt like the momentum at that point. I mean it was it was in our in our favor, kind of in our hands, and and uh it's been that way all season, you know, and it felt like that, uh, that sort of that magic was going to continue special after after the game possible.

I just told him, I appreciate everything, everything he's done, you know, and everything that uh uh he's done this season, and and you know, for him to come in and step in the way he has, I mean Um, you know, just just told him I loved him, and and uh, you know, we'll probably visit the next couple question. But well, I'm gonna you know, obviously, you know, I'm gonna punt that question and talk about that later, knowing that some of these guys has to be in the back of

your mind decisions these guys. And it's tough. I mean it's tough because these guys are gonna build relationship with these guys you spent so much time together and and um, you know, your your roster. Every year, your roster is gonna change. I mean, that's just the way it is. There's there's people are gonna come, people are gonna go, and you know, um, obviously, well we'll talk more about it, you know, in the next next few days. But um, when you build relationship like that and you know these

guys personally, makes it that much harder too. Well, and that's the thing is, you know, we've we've we've won a super Bowl with these guys and and uh, um you know, we'll see, we'll see where we go at the end saying we can rest. Oh no, I'll tell you a credit. The defense I mean they got after Drew which we had to do. Um, you know, I think, uh, the one the one one statistical thing I think was the third downs. I think they were eight of fifteen

on first on third down. That was kind of the big glaring statistic that kind of uh stood out, you know. And then conversely, I think we were two of seven, So that that to me kind of the tail tale right there. We just couldn't get off the field enough defensively with fifteen third downs, I mean, that's a credit to get to fifteen, but then we gotta get off the field. Um. Conversely, seven for third downs is great, but you should at least convert four or five of those. Yeah,

obviously a lot of guys down in the game. Was that going to say about he made the Divisional round? What was that kind of say about going forward? Um? What they can be? Well? And I tell you you got to have a lot of confidence, uh in in in the in the guys and the coaches. I mean, to get to this position, to be in the Divisional round two games away from the super Bowl again, I mean, is is uh, it's it's it's tough in this league.

It's tough to win games. And even back when when a lot of people were you know, counting us out, you know in mid season and after the Dallas game, things like that. Um, it's why you played sixteen games, you know, give yourself a position, you know, shot to be in this position, and um, you know it's a credit, you know, looking forward. Um, you know it's a good football team, good football team, and uh, you know we're

gonna learn from this. We'll be better for him. No, I just think they just played a little bit better. They controlled the line of scrimmage a little a little better. Um, you know, our run game just kind of I won't say disappeared, but it was it wasn't very good you know there, and and tried to continue to run it and um it just felt like that, uh you know, Um they and we had some we had some formation issues and some things like that to kind of had

to burn a couple of time outs there. But other than that, I think just you know, credit them for their effort and you know, making the place. Thank you. Heartbroken Doug Pearson, very very emotional and you can see the love that the players and the coaches have for each other. Obviously, very very difficult way to end the season, and I think you addanced this, I can you certainly understand this from your time in the NFL. This team

is not coming back next year. Okay, you may have head coach Doug Pierson and a lot of the same key players, but by and large, it's going to be a different locker room next year. That's why when media fans will say, can you carry the momentum from one year to the next, I mean, we're talking about nine months from now before this team is going to play a meaningful game, one that's going to count in the standings. Again, you're gonna have free and so, you're gonna have draft,

you have injuries. There's gonna be a lot that takes place during that time. It's not gonna be the same locker room. Even if you bring back a lot of the same amount of guys, there's gonna be addition, subtractions. So the twenty eight team Philadelphi Eagles, that iteration of it, that's done at this point. Yeah, I mean, and that's that's the business of the NFL. Each year is his eat.

I mean, it's his own individual year. I mean, the makeup of that team, that personality, those players, it's unto itself and so when you look at what was on the field tonight, I could guess twenty players at least won't be here next year. When you think about draft picks and free agency things of that nature, there's roster

turnover every year on every ball club. And so when you have a ball club like the Eagles where they basically have been in a championship mode, championship run the last couple of years, there's also gonna be veterans they may not be here. So um, it's it's when you leave that field for the final time, whether it be in Minneapolis with the confetti coming down, or it's in New Orleans. You know, when you when you reconvene in April, whenever the offseason program starts, there's gonna be a lot

of new faces. And most certainly when you step on that field next September for that opening game, it'll be a completely different roster, a makeup, different personalities, a different character that this team will identify itself with. And that's the that's the business of the NFL, and that's why you have to cherish these years. And the thing is, you know, you focus on the change from year to year, players, roles are gonna be different even throughout the course of

the season. I think guys like Craivon LeBlanc. I mean, you're gonna have different guys add to the mix. Avante Max was expected to be a special team's contribute. He comes up being an impactful starter on the outside for you. Golden Tape wasn't on this team, you know, up until the trade deadline just before Halloween. So you're gonna have new faces, new personalized added to and makes all the time. So to recap Doug Pierce's press conference, I think you

hit on it perfectly. Third down was a huge difference. Third down offense had been outstanding for the Eagles to get themselves into the playoffs and into the divisional round well two of seven today and then the defense giving up eight or fifteen to Drew Brees, and Doug Pierson said it best. Sure, it was great we got them into third down situations, some third and long situations, but unfortunately you're just not able to get off the field. You need to make one more play, you know, just

to maybe keep one field goal off the board. So maybe you only need a field goal on the final drive instead of a touchdown, and maybe that changes the complexion of everything. But still the Eagles were in position at the end, but you just needed to make one more play. And you know, if you came into this game saying that the defense is only going to give up twenty points to the New Orleans Saints, you're gonna quiously take that every single day of the week. Okay.

You figured that this offense, the way it had played final six regular season games with Wentz and Nick Foles at quarterback, there average twenty seven points per game, third highest rate in the league. You know, down the stretch there, if you factor in last week's game of sixteen points, I think it was an average still over twenty four points per game, close to twenty five. You figure we're gonna have enough to be able to get to win if we're holding that team to twenty. Other knows we'll

set here a red zone. Okay. Last week in the win over the Bears, Bears were over for three and a red zone freeze and company two for two on the day. That's the difference right there for you. This was the number one red zone defense that the Eel's head in the NFL this season. Unfortunately, just wasn't up to the task today. Against you know, the difference going against a future Hall of Famer and an outstanding play

caller at coach and coach on Payton. Yeah, and when you're on the road and you're growing up against a guy like Drew Brees. You know when opper zone these when opportunities present itself, you got to take advantage of those opportunities. And also, and that could be on the offensive side of the ball or the defense side of the ball. If it's third and long, you gotta get off the field. You have to get off the field.

You can't give up big third down conversions. You can't get Drew Brees in this offense another set of downs. When I look at the box score and I look at the biggest difference in this game, it's not only that third down, but the third down is what contributes to the other factor, which is time of possession. The Saints had the ball for thirty seven minutes, almost fifteen minutes longer than the Eagles had it. That's basically three quarters to one quarter that the Saints had the ball

over the Eagles. It's gonna be difficult for any defense to keep this Saints offense out of the end zone. If they have the ball that much. But it's not just the offense who have to extend drives. The defense has to get off the field on third down certainly. So as we go wait to hear from quarterback Nick Foles in just a little bit. Might as well get into your other takeaways from the season. You got talked about how the Eagles had golfs to a slow start.

You know, they're over come to the Super Bowl hangover. Okay, because again that's the thing that you mentioned. They had to learn about what that was gonna be like here in eighteen. I know Doug Pearson, who had been through it as a player, you know, said to embrace the target. But it looks like it's something that you don't truly understand until you experience it for yourself. You can be told time and time again, this is what's gonna be like where every team is gonna be coming after you.

But until you're seeing that week in and week out, you're not gonna understand the pressures and challenges that come with that. Yeah, and the team had to find out about that firsthand this year and say, it's hard to explain that until you actually go through it. I mean, there are a few players that could talk about it, you know, Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long, guys that have won championships other places. But it's hard to really get that through the players if they've never gone through it and

they had to fight their way through it. Not only that, they dealt with some injuries as well. You know, when you're playing an extended season, when you're playing until February, you're playing more football than anybody else in the league. And it took a whole for some of these guys to get back on the field. You know, you lose guys like Jayajii right that that hurts you. Not really having a clear running identity early in the season, that

took a wow to sort of formulate itself. So I think the extended season couple with the shorter offseason that contributed to the whole Super Bowl hangover, and it took him a while to sort of fight their way out of that. You mentioned the run game and losing Jagi and Corey Clement throughout the course of the season. You know, Doug Pearson said there really just wasn't much of a run game, and you knew that last week going against Chicago and the top rank defense, and you were just

trying to keep the Bears honest. But believe it or not, the Saints run defense just as good as the Bears, the second in terms of yards per game, second in the league this year in terms of yards per carry, and they actually lost arguably their best player along the interior of the line, Sheldon Rankins. Okay, they lost him too. Was reportedly an achilles injury. So you thought the Eels might have the advance. It's the frustrating and sad part,

and we don't know the extent of the injury. The legles lose their Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks, just a couple of plays later that same drive in fact, and that you talk about the offensive line, that's a big reason why Nick Foles had great protection down the stretch, why the offense was able to round into form down to stretch, why the Eagles were able to make it

to the divisional round the postseason. Well, you have a huge domino that falls there with Brandon Brooks going out with the leg injury, and fingers crossed that it's not a significant injury that's gonna impact his offseason preparation, because that's the big concern now at this point, but you take him out. You know, at the right guard position, Jason Peters is battling injury. He has to come out of the game. And left tackle. You know, Stephan Weistnuski

a trusted veteran. He's played center, he's played left guard. He hasn't had to play that right guard spot for the Eagles. Okay, you know he's worked in It started left guard here this season. You know, had to fill

in for Kelsey in that Saints game. But right guard Brandon Brooks, you've been able to put him there and leave him there, and he and Lane Johnson have been outstanding, especially down the stretch, especially when Lane Johnson got healthy, because he dealt with injuries throughout the course of the season. So you know that goes to show right there that you need this offensive line to be healthy. You gotta

figure out in fortified. But the Eagles do need to figure out what they're gonna do with the run game next season because Jgi scheduled to become a free agent, Corey Clement coming back from the injury, Darren Sproles, we don't know what the future holds for him. Josh Ms showed some promise, but obviously wasn't in the mix offensively

late in the season. Wendell Smallwood, you know, nice turnaround here, or someone who had been inactive a minor role contributor to being a big part of the offense all of a sudden down the stretch. I thought he actually made some huge strides in terms of pass pickup because that was one of the weaknesses in his game and why you're not being able to be on the field time

after time. Again, there are a couple of times when the Saints brought pressure and he's able to step up there and help him out, much like Darren Sproles, who's

very very good in that regard. But you know, the Eagles had the run game going early and then you know, maybe it was with the Brooks injury, maybe it was once the once the the secondary is able to clamp down on the Eagls receivers and pass catchers, that they were able to just win the battles of line scripts and make sure that there was no no ground game going for the Eagles and everything was gonna be in Nick Foles's hands. Yeah, and that's difficult. That's difficult to

sustain when you're on the road. You want to play good defense, and you want to have a sustainable running game. And the Eagles today fourteen rushes forty nine yards when you take out of Nick Foles two rushes right when you look at the other running backs. Not really a sustainable running game. And we knew last week that the Eagles sort of they got away with not being able to run the ball. Last week versus Chicago went up against the Saints team a better offense, a more efficient offense.

You needed to have a semblance of a running game and for no other reason to keep that Saints offense on the sideline to help you sustain drives. All right, let's get you your last takeaway here, and it's the fact that the Eagles finished strong here so that they start off slow. They overcame the Super Bowl hangover. But this team that remember forty eight to seven, lost week eleven, November eighteenth, in New Orleans. The following week, a lot

of people don't recall this. They were down nineteen to three against the Giants. And that's where a lot of people could have been like, that's the season, all right, it's not gonna happen this year. Giants were driving the score. Yes, exactly. So that's the thing. I remember. Michael Bennett suffered the foot injury in that game, you know, led a valiant effort in the second half to get the Eagles to win.

So that helped turn the tight around for the Eagles. Okay, they win two of their next three games with Carson Wentz at quarterback. Wentz is out with the back injury. Nick Foles leads them into the playoffs, winning the final three regular season games and then the wild card round. So definitely finishing strong. There goes back to the leadership of Doug Peterson and the quality of character inside the Eagles locker room. With the leadership that the players have. Yeah,

I think you gotta start with the head coach. You gotta start with Doug Peterson. You talk about how the Eagles were after that Saints game that in Barrison Laws forty eight to seven, they rallied to finish six and two. When you look at their last eight games, they won six in their last eight games, finding themselves in the playoffs, able to go on the road and win a playoff

game in Chicago. Really had the ball with an opportunity to go ahead late in this game against the Saints, you gotta at least appreciate the way this team finished down the stretch. That's a testament to the head coach, the hole that he has over this locker room, the fact that these players they continue to play hard for him. His number one trade as a head coach, not his ability to call plays, not his ability to pick players, but his ability to get his players to play for

him every week. His ability to get his players to believe in themselves as well as to believe in their coaches.

That's the biggest thing that I take away from the way this season ended is that we have the right man leading uson, Doug Peterson as the head coach, and moving forward, you have to feel good about where this organization is headed because the foundation is strong, the front office is strong from an ownership standpoint, from a front office personnel standpoint, and then you look at the head coach as well as some of the young talent that you have on this team moving forward, starting with Carson

Wentz was gonna have a full off season to get healthy and get back in to the quarterback position and lead this organization going forward. You have to be excited about the way this team finished up the season because they could have very easily thrown in the towel and hung their hat on the fact that they won the Super Bowl last year. But they weren't satisfied. They weren't They weren't going to just lay down and let the season go to waste. Give them a lot of credit

these players. They fought, They fought to the end, and what do you know, they found themselves in the second round coming up a little short against a very good New Orleans Saints team. I mean, look in the playoffs that they went on the road against the Bears, a team that not hosted a playoff game since twenty ten. And you know, Foles was able to move the ball

against the number one ranked defense. They were able to withstand the Bears final drive as Trayvon Hester, you know, tips the Cody Parky attempt at the double doings that gives the Eagles a win. That that was an undermanned team going against a team that was outstanding from the start of the season. Okay, they were able to niggate Khalil Mack, one of the league's best players forget offense, defense,

just best players period. They were able to neutralize him to get to the second round, and they knew the challenges that they had at hand today going against Drew Brees and Sean Payton and an offensive line that probably doesn't get enough credit. That's one of the best in the league. Again, Drew Brees was sacked, I believe twice today. He had only been sacked seventeen times in fifteen starts this season. Absolutely outstanding and the past catchers, Uh, send

it now to the superdown. Nick Foles addressing the media, you know what, they really did a good job of, you know, showing us different looks. But you know, at the end of the day, you know we didn't execute. Um. You know, we got to be able to first few drives were great, Um, but after that, we guess we have to keep it going. But I mean they're tremendous team. Um, hats off to them. Um, you know, unfortunately, you know, we had an opportunity at the end. And you know,

it's tough. I mean it's tough. You know, you love playing this game with you know, your teammates, and that's the toughest part about it is it just it stops. And you know, thirty one teams feel this at the end of the season. Um, and you know. I'd say the hardest part is you you develop relates. I talk about relationships, You develop relationships with your teammates, and you know for it to end, it's tough, um, just being

with these guys. But you know we're able to spend time in the locker room after and UM, that's what this game is about, is those relationships during the playoffs. He happened one last years. UM, you know, I'm not really gonna worry about it right now. UM. I think you know, I'm just gonna do what I can to enjoy this fight back with my teammates. UM, and we'll see what happens. UM. I do know that you know, we went out there and gave it everything we had tonight.

And that's where you know, everyone's got to keep their um heads held high because that's what it's about. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but ultimately, if you give it everything you have. You know, that's what's about other team After that last play, what do you say, Oh, dude, just you just tell them you love them. That's what it's about. I mean, this game it's tough. Not everyone can do it. Um. In those moments, you know, just

tell them I love you let's keep going. UM, you know, amongst other things that I'll keep to myself, but you know that's a general message and that's what this team is about. That's what you know, playing this game is about, is you know, developing those relationships to you know, the tough part about it, like I said, is you know,

when it's over, it's over. UM. But you don't. I don't regret anything, you know, I always play this game to develop relationships because you know that's what makes it strong, team strong. So those catches, yeah, no, I mean you know that's part of the game. You know, can't look back and you know, say what if or what? You know, the confidence level in the huddle was extremely confident, like always, UM.

You know, we go in there, we're getting the huddle every time and expect to march right down the field. You know, we were moving the ball and unfortunately it didn't go our way. UM. But that's the tough part about this game. UM. You know, you you win through losses, you win through wins. UM. You know this is something that you know all of us are going to learn from and we'll be better for UM. I've talked a lot about you know, my career in the NFL and

the ups and downs. You're always learning, um, and you know we learned a lot tonight and it's tough, but we'll keep moving on. The first one, First one, UM, he made a good play. I was trying to take a shot down field. UM, need to get the ball up probably another foot or so. But you know, I believe it was a lot of Moore made a good play. I'm sure you're aware of how much the fans in Philadelphia just adore you. And nobody will see you though. UM. I think the big thing is you know what the

city means to me. Um. You know it's always welcome me and my family. UM. It's really been a joy to live there and be a part of everything. And you know where the green and where the Jersey. So no matter what, you can't ever take that away. UM. We were able to do some really special things. So you know, we'll see what happens. But I'll tell you this, I've enjoyed every single moment and it'll always have a special place in my heart. The city, the fans, the people, UM,

everything about it. Um. There's nothing like playing in the link um in front of the crowd. UM. It's it's some of my favorite moments. Um. My family's got to experience them. Um, My daughter's got to experience them. So we'll see what happens. But I've enjoyed everything. You just, uh, what's the play? What's the next play? Um, you know that's all that matters. Um. I talked about staying in the moment and the you know, playing the Super Dome,

we have opportunity to go down and score at the end. Um. The only thing I'm worried about is the play and then recognizing what the defense is doing and ultimately executing the play. So just simplifying things in my head in those moments so I can go out there and you know, march down the field back out there was there? You know, it's just a miss um. You know, you know, different coverage,

different things part of this game. You take shots, and you know I think you know, ultimately, Um, you know, I wish I had to put a little more air on it. Um, that's the tough part about the game is you know we didn't executing that. I gotta throw a better ball. Yeah, two options based up the coverage. Here's a couple of options game. Yeah, I mean, ltimately, we didn't execute. Did you overall just not feel as sharp as you have the less stress? No. I mean,

you know, football is a funny sport. It means you know, especially to playoff football. UM, it's a it's a it's a it's tough. Um. You know, I felt like we started the game off high and we were battling the rest of the game, and you know, we gave ourselves an opportunity to you know, win the game at the end, Um, based on how our team was playing. Um, you wish

you could get done. But at the end of the day, you know, New Orleans did a great job of you know, fighting themselves and you know, giving themselves a win and ultimately they won. So UM, you know I feel good about you know, everyone's effort. I know everyone gave everything. This is tough just because you know, this is the last time this team will be together. And that's the toughest part about this different this year, because no, it's

always difficult. Um. You know, fortunately we were able to be the you know, one team that finished on top, and that's just an electrifying feeling. Um, it doesn't really matter. Um, if you're not that one team, it's tough like I said, because the locker room changes and that's it. Um. But I know, like you know, we fought our way all season. Um. The guys are resilient, our coaches are resilient, Everyone at the facilities resilient. And they showed that. So everyone should

be very proud of what they were able to accomplish. Ultimately, it wasn't our end goal, but it's like I said, everyone should keep their heads held high because you know we were able to you know, really pick it up the last four weeks or so, and you know, we were so close all throughout the year, and that that's a testament to the people that you know are in the facility, the guys in the locker room, because most teams aren't able to do that and fight like this

team has. UM. I think the thing right now is just, um, your emotions. You're trying, you're trying to figure them out right now. There's a lot going on. Um, you know, ultimately, all I can really think about it is just you know, enjoying this fight with my teammates. UM. I know we wish we were continuing on, but you know that's part of this game. UM. You know, just enjoying that seeing them tomorrow. UM, that's really all I'm thinking about. Yeah, I mean, you know, I think i've you know, we'll

see what happens in the future. UM. Once again, I'm not gonna speculate on that, but yeah, I love leading a team. I love you know, being in the huddle. UM, being a part of a locker room. UM. Doing that, that's you know why I play the game. You know, that's that's football though. Um, Injuries happen. Um. We showed that last year. We had a lot of injuries and we were able to overcome them. And you know, ultimately to I know tonight a couple of guys got banged up,

but that's part of the game. UM, next guy up. And you know I've always said the guys who are injured are still there supporting our team. UM. And that's a that's really special. UM. But you know that's just part of football. How you know that's A that's a tough question. UM. You know, it's a it's a really unique situation. UM, something that honestly, I need time to just step back. I love the city. I love playing there. UM. You know, we have three guys in that quarterback room

that can play in this league. Um, and that's the part about it. But I'll tell you this, no matter what happens, Um, it's been a joy um being playing in the city, being in that quarter room, quarterback room with Carson and Nate. I'm going to work every day, and I know we talked about it earlier, but the city means so much to me and my family. UM, you know, and I always will yours by your side

throughout the runs. In the Super Bowl Championship, you spoke out again this time was his message to you after this being a loss? Yeah, I think you know, Carson and Nate, Um, we're all together. UM. I think the big thing is just you know, love and support for one another in that quarterback room. UM. You know, It's it's tough too when the season comes to end, because you do we do so much together with film, study, um,

with supporting each other on the sidelines and practice. UM, So for it to come to an end, it's tough. But like I said, you you always cherish those relationships you develop. UM, going to work every day. So just having Carson and Nate be supported me this last stretch and when Carson was playing or if Nate's playing like it's a special quarterback room because of the support system and UM, you know something that you know we don't

take for granted. UM. I'd say the big thing is, you know, I would like to thank them, UM, thank them for their support. Uh, you know it's not ultimately you know how we wanted to end the season, but I think you know, this team, um represents what Philly is about. You know, people counted us out and we were able to continue to fight and give us an opportunity to enter the playoffs. And then when the shround and you know, we had an opportunity to win this game,

and this team never stopped fighting. Much like the city of Philadelphia. That's just sort of you know, living in the city, that's just who the people are. But ultimately, I just want to say how grateful I am for everything they've done, every moment in the link, and you know, just continue to support the Eagles, and there's a bright future here with this team and everyone there. Thank y'all

absolutely perfectly said right there at the end. We have been so fortunate over the last two seasons to have Carson Wentz and Nick Foles represent this football team, to play the quarterback position and to play that leadership role, and Nick Foles epitomizes right there everything you want in

a quarterback. Okay, you know, obviously talked about the game and you know the fact that they didn't execute, but once you get the immacy of the loss out of the way, it's just talking about how over the last nine months he's been in the bunker with these guys, day in and day out, and this is the final plane ride they're going to take together. It's the last couple hours that they're going to have together really as

a team. They will come to the facility on Monday, they'll have a final meeting and clean out their lockers, go through exit physicals, but their minds are quickly, you know, shifting gears toward the offseason and then getting out of here and getting away from football for a little bit. But to hear Nick Foles, all I can say is thank you. We don't know what, we don't know what the future holds, we don't know what's going to happen, but absolutely thank you for everything for allowing us to

be a part of this magical run. For not just not just the quarterback play, but again the way that he's representing himself and this football team. He is one of the most has to be one of us admired athletes in the country for the fact that he's proficient on the field, but with the message that he carries with him about his teammates and relationships and the brotherhood and that's that's what's sports is all about. That's the

best part of it all. And watching he and Nick worked, he and Carson Wentz worked together the last couple of years, it's, you know, like Foles at the end, it's it's a bright future here in Philadelphia with great things to come. So just a tip of the cap to you, Nick Foles, NICKI six. No matter what happens, just thanks for everything right there. I don't know if I could see it any better than what you just said, Chris. I mean, the guy is genuine. We've been fortunate as Eagles fans

to have Nick Foles here. I was excited when they brought him back two years ago under this regime. I was sad to see him go the first time when we traded him for Sam Bradford. Have always been a big fan of Nick Foles and for what Nick Foles have done for this organization, for the city of Philadelphia, no matter what his future holds for him, no matter what team he goes on to play for, and he's more than likely played his last game as an Eagle, and h he's gonna always be an Eagle. He's an

Eagle great. I think one day he'll being shrined in the Eagles Hall of Fame as he most right he's he he rightfully should be. Uh, he's one of the greatest Eagles of all time. He was a big part in delivering the most coveted trophy that this city has learned for throughout the history of sports in this town. Uh. He was a big part bringing that here, bringing being

a Super Bowl MVP. And when this season looked like it was over, it was Nick Foles that infused life into this team and into this city one more time. And it was a perfect swan song. Well I shouldn't say perfect because it didn't end in another super Bowl title, but but if the season was going to end, he's at quarterback. He was perfect for his last year to end the season. It didn't end the way we wanted it to end, but with him being the quarterback for us,

I'm perfectly fine for that. And just like you said, I tip my cap to you as well, Nikki six. Thank you for being a fantastic Eagle, uh and good luck to whatever your future mayn He is as exceptional off the field has he is on. Genuine that's that's genuinely. The best part is the fact that what you see is what you get. There's no filter, there's no facade anything on all those lines. He is that way each

and every day. And it just seemed like when the lights are the brightest, he's the most commons he's able to deliver, you know, whether it's you know, facing the media during Super Bowl week, all those press conferences and telling his story about you know, his wife's disease, and you know how that you know fueled him and how he talked about talked about walking away from the game, and you know, he got his career re energized with Andy Reid and Kansas City and then came back here

to Philadelphia. Uh and just you know, he almost went to Tampa Bay last year. And you know that that one move, that one decision, he said, largely because because he loved the city of Philadelphia. Yeah, you know, and this is a man who's never gonna have to buy

another Meal in this town again. But the fact that the fans openly embraced him from the start, you know, helped him want to come back here, and in return, he delivers, like you said, the greatest trophy that this city has won, if you know, forever, forever, forever, since the Super Sense at first Super Bowl. You know, you can have your Stanley Cops, you have your World Series trophies,

everything else, but you have all these great parades. But everyone said that they that the Eagles have their parade after winning a Super Bowl. It is going to be epic. And it lived beyond. It was beyond expectations, absolutely absolutely breathtaking. So what we're gonna do now is we heard from head coach Doug Pearson a short time ago in his press conference. He spoke a short time ago with Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Quick came down from the

broadcast booth. Always always, always the best interview Doug does after the game because he's fully candid and open and honest with Mike Quaker. I think Mike does a great job of getting to the point with the questions that need to be asked. That listit the great responses from hey coach Doug Pearson. So here's that one on one interview right now, coach, on that final drive, looks like you're gonna have an opportunity to pull this thing up. The ball goes to al Shan's hand, they intercept it.

What do you say to a player after something like that happens. You just got to remind him that he's a good player and he's made a ton of catches for us. He's made some big plays for us this season, last season helps us win a championship, and one play is not going to define al Sean. Jeffrey, There's no way. Yeah, there are a lot of guys on the sideline consulting Ali Sean. Was that message pretty much the same. It's the same, it's the same, and you know it's it's

gonna stay obviously, Um, but we're gonna surround him. We're gonna rally around him, and and uh, you know he's gonna be better for it. We're gonna be better for it, and and uh we move forward. This wasn't that slow start today. You got off to an early start. What

works so well early in this football game? You know, I think I think early on, um, we had a little a little offt kept them off balance a little bit, and and and mixed Mixed had a really good run of of of pass and run, and you know, just we made some plays and then as a game kind of w we had that interception, you know, Altimore had that pick on al Sean or on zach Ertz there in the second quarter, felt like we had some momentum.

And and then at that point, um, I think they went down and down scored and just you can kind of feel things turned just a little bit. But you know, our guys were, guys were still engaged. Uh, they were, they were they were full throttle, and and uh, you know, I had to give us a chance to win it at the end. Did your defense were down at all seas they had and your side you had forty seven offensive places? Yeah, that that's that's uh, that's that's something

we can't we can't have. They had that long drive obviously in the third quarter, but basically took the entire third quarter. Um, And that's that's tough. It's tough on our guys. And and then we had the you know a number of number of injuries, guys, guys missing you know, Brandon missed the entire game. Fletcher missed substantial timers, all different guys, Brandon Graham. So it's hard. Um, yeah, yeah,

but listen, you gotta you gotta find a way. You gotta find a way to get off the field, especially when, uh, you know, defensively, Um, you know, you have fifteen third downs in the game of the Saints do and and we gotta make sure we get off the field. But no one expected you to come down here and win. How could you expect to come down here? What made you think that you could come down here and be

I just I just believe in our guys. I believe in trusting our players, and um, you know, our coaches and my coaches and you know, and that's a lot of confidence coming down here, you know. I mean, we felt like the first game was was not us, not who we were, and and uh, um we've battled all seasons, so we've been we've been battle tested, and uh, I felt like this was obviously a great environment for us

to come down here and win this game. Well, let me tell you, I've enjoyed the way you put this thing together through adversity and look forward to working with you more. I appreciate it. Quick, you got it. Thanks? All right, an interesting stat there, and you, Mike Quick brought it up. There, seventy one plays run by the Saints compared to forty seven for the Eagles, and that's the end of the game. Numbers. Consider the fact that the Eagles scored on their first two drives. The second

drive the Eagles had went for ten plays. So really it was after those first two drives, I mean, Eagles I was scoring no points, but really never even threatened to put any other additional points on the board up until the final drive, which ended with the interception the second of the game by Marshawn Lanimore. Yeah, I mean, listen, the Eagles defense game out smoking as well as the offense. The Saints offense was went three and out their first

couple of drives. But yeah, just after that first quarter, it's pretty much it boils down to not being able to get off the field on third down and then not converting third downs on offense. How ironic is it that for most of the season first quarter was the bugaboo for the Eagles, not able to get you off to fast starts, and then finally, you know, you know, pouring it on in the second half and you hope, okay,

is this going to carry over to next week? Well, in the dividual round of the playoffs, the Eagles get off to a brilliant start, blazing start. Yeah, now fourteen nothing and we're driving, okay to possibly put more points on the board, and then the Marshawn Lantimore interception really started to turn to tie. There, gave the scenes some life and they whittled away to come out with the twenty to fourteen victory. So we're gonna take our first

break here on the postgame show presented by Rico. On the other side, we're gonna go in the film room as the mad Scientist, Fran Duffy and Greg Cosel breakdown one of the biggest plays from tonight's game. If you are following us right now on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube, you need to come over to Philadelphi Eagles dot com or the app to watch the rest of the show. We're gonna tie a bow on this twenty eighteen season and start to look ahead to what's gonna lie ahead

for the offseason. We'll be back after these messages. You know, you have the power to choose your energy provider. When you pick NRG, you can choose from a number of plans with benefits and rewards to fit any lifestyle. They have a plan that gives you cash back, plans that benefit the community, plans for the shoppers out there, plans with renewable power, and plans I give you awesome stuff like this. So stop running the same play all the time, switch to NRG and pick the right plan for you.

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McDonald's proud partner of the Philadelphia Eagles. All right, welcome back to the show, and as we discussed at the end of the first segment there, the Eagles couldn't have asked for a better start, jumping out to a seven nothing lead after Cravon LeBlanc hauled in the air reception on the very first play from scrimmage. Nick Foles went five for five on the opening drive, connecting with Jordan Matthews for a thirty seven You're touchdown a new figured.

If the Eagles are getting quality contributions from role players early on like LeBlanc and Jordan Matthews, this is going to be a good day for the Eagles. Obviously, the Eagles coming up just short, but still quite a play there to start things off, and to break down exactly how we came to fruition, let's go inside the Rico Film room for the Rico Review where NFL Film Senior producer Grey Cosell and Fran Duffy are standing by. All Right,

so let's now get into this touchdown here. The opening dry for the Eagles a touchdown from Nick Falls to Jordan Matthews on a deep corner out. Greg tell us what helps lead to this play? How Jordan Matthews is wide open? Well, first of all, we see Jordan Matthews all the way on the left side of our screen here. He's very tight to the formation and with press coverage by the slot corner p j Williams. So the most important thing is in order to keep the timing of

the route, he has to get his best release. He can't be held up with the line of scrimmage, so he works inside. He's essentially going to be running a deep corner or a deep sail route, but he's got to get off the line of scrimmage, so he works inside to do that. But now what the Eagles are going to do, because what they want to make sure is that the deep safety, the single high safety Marcus Williams, does not become a factor in this throw. So what's

the design of the play. The design of the play will be outside zone run action to the right side of the formation with a moving pocket. It's not really boot action, but it's a moving pocket for Nick Falls. And the reason that is so critical is because of Marcus will Marcus Williams will react to the outside zone run action. Now he doesn't fly up because he's a single high safety, but he slides toward the run action. So let's start this play and you can see exactly

what happens as you see the outside zonner. Look, it's right there, free it. He's taken two steps in the NFL. That's an eternity. He's done. He is no longer going to be in position to get all the way across the field, even though he has very good range and react to the deep sail route by Jordan Matthew. So let's play it out. And this is an outstanding throw by Nick Foles because there's not pressure in his face, but he's not truly comfortable and secure. That's a great,

great throw and the Eagles get a touchdown first drive. Yeah, Nick Foles shows that faith once again in his receivers to find a way to win against man covered. So we saw two examples there of the Eagles beating man. A man drives me exactly right, a huge thing there going into this game. Eagles go on top seven nothing. Those two love the work they do all year around. You do a great job with him on the Eagles game Plan show the Eagle Eye in the Sky podcast

that the two do together, just fantastic, fantastic work. And uh, I tell you, I'm gonna miss it, missed the All twenty two that that's the saddest part here because of the way the season's ended. The football fan in me might want to watch the rest of the way because I'm just gonna want chair aspect that we still have a couple of weeks of football. But I don't want to see the Saints team. Let's be I don't want to see the Saints team. I mean, I guess the Rams.

You know, at least we beat the Rams in La. I'm on the room for Big Rid. Now you might, I mean, I guess you might as well be at this point. I mean, you know, seriously, especially if he can knock off Bell check in the Patriots, then knock off. If you can knock off Sean Payton and the Saints, sure that that really will be the Coo de gras right there, say the least but one thing we were talking about during a break, you know, we go into the the just looking back at this game real quick here,

going back to like time of possession. The Eagles had the ball for nine minutes and nineteen seconds in their first two drives, which resulted in touchdowns to give them the fourteen nothing lead. Okay, if we could bring up the box score once again, here the whole time possession for the game twenty two minutes and ten seconds for the Eagles. The longest drive that they had after that two minutes and fifty seconds. It was a four play drive that needed the first down. I mean, they didn't

give many first downs after that first quarter. I'm just trying to do a quick count. Seven maybe the final drive seven you had four and the second half total, two of them on the final drive, but yeah, seven. So you had eight first downs on the first two drives, seven the rest of the game. And the longest drive again two minutes of fifty seconds you had one two. I won't count the one to end the first half, but one, two, three, four. Five of their drives or

two minutes or less. What a final drive looked like. They're best offensive series, it was since the first quarter. Yes, yeah, that was the best series. You know, at the end of the day, we're gonna talk about how Drew Brees was amazing on third down, and you know how many points that the Saints were able to put up here. But Saints defense allowed just twenty one points in two games, two games to the Eagles, one with Carson Wentz, one

with Nick Foles. I think it was five combined interceptions because Carson went to three interceptions the first one two today for Foles. This Saints defense beat the Eagles both matchups, so you know, and again today the Eagles still had a chance on the last drive, not able to get it done there. But that's gonna be something when you're looking big picture off season in terms of where the Eagles can prove or we're gonna you know, take a peek at two as a nineteen after our final break

come up in a few moments here. But that's gonna be something to note that twice you went down to the New Orleans and twice you were not able to gain much ground against the Saints defense. Well that's that's really been the buggaboo for the team all year long, right has been the offense hasn't looked as explosive or as consistent or crisp as it did last year. And I think a big part of it we focus a

lot on the quarterbacks. Obviously we're going to do that, but I think you put a lot more pressure on the quarterbacks when you don't have a running game to rely on. So when I look at this team from this year versus what it looked like last year, the biggest differences to me is the running game. Is the consistency of the running game or the lack thereof in the running game, And that's what it hurt him today.

You you go on the road against the Saints and you're only able to rush for fifty yards, that's gonna be difficult. You got away with it last week against Chicago. You even got away with it against the Houston Texans because Nick had such a great game from a passing standpoint, But not since Josh Adams had those two games where yet like eighty plus yards in those two games, and even in those two games, they were like four yards per carry, so it wasn't as if you were rushing

for almost five yards and carry. I think the running game has sputtered all year long, and I think that's been a big reason why the offense has struggled. At times, They've been able to do some things to sort of mask the inefficiency with the running game by short passes and things of that nature the screen game. But when I look at the two years and what's missing is we had we had a running game last year and you had three headed monster last year when you had

Blunt and Clement. This year neither of those, none of those guys. And then when Corey goes down, you really just haven't had guys healthy at the position. Give Windale, small Wood and Josh Adam's credit for trying to trying to be efficient. Darren Sprows coming back trying to give you something, but man, you missed those those big bodies in there, and that's what those three guys provided you.

Well said, yeah, that's gonna be one of the biggest things that Harry Rod has been company when they're trying to figure out how to improve this offense next season because it is a lot play well, yes, especially down the stretch once it got healthy. But you look at the defense number of injuries there, Okay, yeah, and look you have great stories like a Vonte Max stepping up. I think Russeul Douglas was one of the most improved

players down huge down the stretch there. I thought Nigel Bradhams shine late in the season there, so you know, there are some big takeaways from that part of it because of the injuries. But at least you could say that's side of the ball deal with injuries. The offense didn't have a ton of injuries, okay, compared to the defense side of the ball. It's the lack of a running game. I think that certainly is gonna be something that they have to figure out going forward in twenty nineteen.

And we'll start to look ahead to twenty nineteen after this our final break believer or not of the entire season here on the postgame show presented by Rico. The life of a Philly sports fan is a wild ride. Some years we triumph, some years we trust. What never changes year after year is how we get to the game, shoulder to shoulder with our fellow fans on SEPTA, get your ride started. I set the Philly dot Com. Come

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I'm trying to stay strong. Sometimes I realize and further that I home when you and your money are treated with respect, your prosper and at Santander Bank, respect adds up. The life of a Philly sports fan is a wild ride. Some years we triumph, some years we trust. What never changes year after year is how we get to the game, shoulder to shoulder with our fellow fans on SEPTA. Get

your ride started at ictaphilly dot com. Eagles High School Football Showdown, presented by Rothman Orthopedics at Jefferson Health celebrates local high school football coaches and their teams. Congratulations to Coach Infante from Saint Joe's Prep, our twenty eighteen Coach of the Year. Visit Philadelphia Eagles dot com Slash Showdown to check out all of this year's coaches and to learn more about the program. All right, welcome back to the show. So the eighteen season in the books for

the Philadelphia Eagles. There will be a new Super Bowl champion this season, the final four consisting of the Chiefs and the Patriots on the AFC side, the Saints and

the Rams over on the NFC. So as we look to what lies ahead for the Eagles, we gonna take a quick peek at the twenty nineteen schedule, because that's already set in stone, like, so, the Eagles are facing the AFC East and the NFC North next season, So you get Tom Brady coming here to the link be a very fascinating matchup here in twenty nineteen, Russell Wilson

coming here as well. The awaye schedule, you know, first glance here and obviously you got wait to see, you know, what games you have on the road consecutively and what time of year you might be going to Buffalo. But you know, that's that's a pretty pretty solid awayte schedule

for the Eagles next season. Yeah yeah, I mean, listen, they finished second in this division, so you sort of get a second place schedule from your division finish, and uh, listen, I expect the Eagles to b and that had these type of schedules every year because I expect them to be at the top of their division every you expect them to be a playoff team every year. So they're going to typically get the league's best, and next year you get you get three guys and Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers,

Russell Wilson, guys that have won Super Bowls. You get three guys that have won super Bowls. Right there, or your schedule, you get a playoff rematch against the Bears. Here. Who knows what the Red Skins will look like when you face them next year? The Giants as well, who knows what their situation is gonna look like moving forward. You know, Buffalo is always difficult in Atlanta bounce back. So we just need to sort of regroup and it'll be interesting to see what Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas

sort of do with this roster. They got a lot of tough decisions to make. Veterans on this ball club, contract extensions. What do you do this offseason going into the draft. What positions are you focusing in on? You know, it's it's it'll be an interesting off season. We almost didn't really have an offseason last year, right we went through free agency. Nobody even cared that the draft came. Other than the fact that we took Dallas Godard away from the Dallas Cowboys, no one really care about the

draft last year. This will be a huge all season because this sets the Eagles up moving forward, right, This sets them up moving forward, and we got some good young talent coming back. It'll be a shouting to see who they're gonna retain on the roster, which guys come back from injury, because we got guys like Jalen Mills coming back. Rodley McLeod could be back here next year. So you have some talent coming back as well. And

then you know Howard Roseman. The all season is his time and he's rarely quiet in the all season, so I expect, how are we to do something that we don't see coming. He typically does that and puts this team in the right position moving forward. They got a lot of pieces, they got a lot of draft equity that they're gonna move around. Who knows they may move up in the draft. Who knows what they'll target, But I do know they're never quiets, never boring. Yes, yeah,

it's not gonna be born here whatsoever. Last year we're celebrating this year, it's going to be all business trying to get back to the top of the mountain. And the fact that the Eagles, you know, were just six points away from getting to the Final four, shows that,

you know, the new norm is here for Doug Pearson company. Because, like you said, you have the head coach and you have quarterback Carson Wentz and for him to get an entire offseason of you know, be able to focus, to rest, you know, to get fully healthy is gonna be huge because he was just battling the entire he dealt with the stress of trying to be on the field for

week one, all less off season, you know. So while everyone was, you know, enjoying the fruits or the the labor of winning the Super Bowl, you know, he's here at the Novercare Complex. He's out in North Dakota working out, just trying to get himself to be on the field for week one. Okay, he made on the field for Week three, put some very very good numbers, showed a lot of promise in different areas. Then the back injury

sidelines up for the season. He gets to rest, take a step back and get a different perspective on things. He saw how Nick Foles ran the offense down the stretch,

you know. So you know that Carson Wentz Doug Peterson are gonna have this off season to work together, and this is a season where he could really take flight here to really maximize and get back to that level that we saw from him in the twenty seventeen season when he was and I think people forget that he was Patrick Mahomes Before Patrick Mahomes, I mean, I mean, Carson Wentz was the player taken the league by storm in twenty seventeen, and just like that, he's kind of

on the back burner. Everyone's forgetting about him. He's gonna be ready to make some noise in twenty nineteen as he takes back the quarterback position here in Philadelphia. Well, I tell you, Chris, I haven't forgotten what he looked like in two seventeen, where he basically was the front runner for the MVP and should have won the NDP

regardless of being injured. And now the last time Carson Wentz had a full off season where he didn't have to rehab, where he can focus on some of his deficiencies as a player, gets stronger in those areas, focus on getting better, being a part of the off season program fully in the off season, being a part of OTA's and mini camps without any distractions. The last time he had that type of off season to prepare for the season, he threw for thirty three touchdowns to just

seven interceptions in thirteen games. He was eleven in two and he was the story of the NFL. That's what I expect to see from Carson Wentz next year. He's gonna have a full off season where he doesn't have to worry about rehabbing. That back is gonna heal gradually with just rest. He's gonna get a chance to get better. He's gonna get a chance to work out with his teammates this offseason. He's gonna get a chance to go

to North Dakota with his teammates this offseason. And more importantly, he's going to be a part of spring football right from the beginning. Not real, not rehabbing, not being slowly integrated into the offense. He's gonna be a part of the preseason. People forget he didn't have a preseason last year. He stepped on the field week having not played since

Week fourteen of the previous year. This guy when he gets a four off season, we know what he looks like and if nothing else, that should have you excited about this team moving forward. I'm just glad I'm not writing the daily what did Carson Wentz do Today? Story? You know is week one still in play for Carson Wentz. We don't have to worry this offseason. It's just gonna be what is his potential? What's his ceiling gonna be?

In the twenty nineteen campaigns. So I for the last time here, I'm going to ask you what will the discussion be Tomorrow two pm? Marks and re Show you know what. I think Tomorrow will be a day of thanks. Obviously, we'll talk about the game and there's some missed opportunities, and fans will be able to live disappointed because we know we were right there. We were good enough to

beat this team, and that'll sting a little bit. But I think as the day slowly moves along, I think this fan base, while there's still a passionate fan base, they still can get on you when you don't meet expectations. This is also a very knowledgeable fan base, and this team from where they were in the middle of the season has exceeded expectations, and I think this fan base will recognize that as you continue to discuss the season,

how it ended and moving forward. I think this has become somewhat of a more should I say patient fan base? Can we use that? Yeah? Can we use that? And that's understanding. There you go, That's the evolution of a fan base that doesn't have the necessarily decades upon decades of frustration built up of disappointment. We did just win the Super Bowl last year, and this fan base has not forgotten that. No, not whatsoever, nor should they. But

they shouldn't understand that the Eagles are not satisfied. The Eagles want to be back there again this season and things didn't quite go the way that they expected. It was a different journey. Just think about the move for Golden Tap. Yeah, that they want to win, certainly, you know. But the big thing was twenty seventeen. We were flying high right from the start of the season. Again, Carson

Wentz was a talk of the league. They raced out to an eleven two record, they got home field advantage and those two the atmosphere fills two playoff games just absolutely magical. And then the MVP performance by Nick Foles in the Super Bowl, just truly majestic with Alshon Jeffrey, who again, I know he's got to be, you know, really heartbroken over the way that his season ended because he's a guy who's come up so much in the clutch time after time again. But nonetheless, this team does

not win a super Bowl without him. That's the one thing that we cannot forget is, you know, while some people might be geting Alshan for the drop here that led to that you know, game ceiling interception by Marshall Ladmore, this team does not win a super Bowl. Nor is this team in the playoffs this season if it's not for al Shan Jeffrey. And then this season here where we all were thinking, okay, is the magic going to

carry over from last year, it didn't. It became as as I said earlier, it's going to be a new year in twenty nineteen. But the twenty eighteen team wrote its own chapter overcame a ton of adversity, fought its way to the postseason, and provide us with quite a ride in the month of December and early on in January to make us all believe. Because when the Eagles

lost forty eight to seven in New Orleans. No one thought this was going to be certainly a championship team, and most people probably thought the playoffs were not going to happen in eighteen. This is a team that got people to believe. Okay, that's how special the brotherhood was. The chemistry was in the locker room here this year. And it comes up six points short in a twenty to fourteen decision against the New Orleans Saints in the

divisional round. So quite a ride, it said, that's over, But there's gonna be big things to come in twenty nineteen moving forward because the pieces for long term stability and success are in place. The Eagles have the formula to win, to get back the way to the way it was when you were here for those years where you were going to making those deep playoff runs year

and in year out. The formulas here in Philadelphia, they just need to execute, and this offseason is going to be absolutely instrumental in making sure that those plans come to fruition. So that's gonna do it for us here on the postgame Show presented by rico Ike, the Best Man, you make it so easy, make it so easy, Such a pleasure weekend a week out. Absolutely will miss these Sundays, these late late nights here you know, getting it done. We will have complete coverage of locker room clean out

day tomorrow. We do not have a time right now for if Doug Pearson will address the media. We will give that to you on our social media channels if we get that later on in the evening. But nonetheless for IKE Racing, all of us here at the Philadelphia Eagles, I'm Chris McPherson. You've been watching the postgame show presented by Rico. Everyone have a great Eagles night. Thanks for tuning in this season