Post-Game Show: Eagles Win 32-30 On Last-Second Kick

by Rico Chris mcfiers. Always like former Eagles linebacker ike Reas, that game had it all. The Eagles had a double digit lead in the third. In the fourth quarter, once again it slid away and you thought, maybe this is gonna be the story of the season that once again the Eagles are unable to finish there, trailing thirty to twenty nine. They get the ball one last time. Nick Foles takes a shot in the end zone. He's hurt, has to come out for one play comes back in

gutsie drive. There was a pass over the middle of zach Ertz, who capped off a record breaking day where he said the all time single season record for most catches by a tight end and then a few more

receptions to get the Eagles within field goal range. And Jake Elliot okay, known for the dramatic last season, with that win over the Giants, missed an extra point earlier in the game, makes up for it with the thirty five yard field goal and you just heard the call there courtesy of Merrill Camp of Merrillies, giving us the game winner. The Eagles save their season, improved at eight and seven, another win over a division leading team ike,

and whoo, they have put themselves in position. Now some bad news happening around the rest of the league. Dallas winning, they clinched the NFC East Minnesota one, so they still are in control for that last wild card spot. But nonetheless, though, the Eagles had to save their season. And what a gutsie drive as Nick foles four hundred and seventy one passing yards sets the all time single game passing record for the Philadelphia Eagles. Yeah, just an outstanding game, Chris.

I mean, you look at the offensive side of the ball, and boy did they come to play today. Now today, in my opinion, this might have been the best the offensive look, especially from the passing aspect of the game, but really just a gutsy performance came out dominated. I thought the defense, you know, they relaxed a little bit there in the second half. Give Houston a lot of credit. They didn't give up obviously, with a lot to play for on the line for them, they're trying to get

a bye week. They climb back into this game. They take the lead, but the Eagles showing resilience and Nick Foles, like you said, that big shot he took in the end zone to add fifteen yards to the big throw he was able to complete to al Sean Jeffrey and then the throw to Zach Ertz. They really put them in field goal range. I think just a clutch performance by Nick coming down the stretch. With this offense, you

put the ball in his hands. You needed a field goal to go in and win the game in the end, and Nick Foles was able to do it. Really not able to I haven't seen the Eagles do this, not correct me if I'm wrong. Not since the Coats game. Had they come back, I mean this late in the game, had a game winning drive like they did in this game here. So you know, we haven't seen very many of these type of victories. This year, we've often been

on the wrong side of these type of games. But it's great to see this team coming off of that game last week against the Rams. I was so concerned about an emotional letdown coming off of that big win last week, but they came home and what could be the final home game of the season, and they really put on an offensive performance for this home crowd, and what a thrilling victory and what could be the possibly the last game. Well we'll be the last game. The

Cowboys won the East. Yet Cowboys won the East, so it will be the last game. And what a game to go out on. Man, what a game to go out on. We've had some dramatic finishes this year, and you got we got to come to the set Ra afterwards, and it's hard to kind of compartmentalize everything right off. I had to be able to get ready to do

the broadcast once. It's great doing this in such thrilling fashion. Again, it has been a playoff like atmosphere for the Eagles going to LA last weekend, the big win, underdogs, you know, huge, you know spread that they were against able to get the win on the road, but that game also allowed the Rams to climb back into the game late. Well here, once again, not only did they allow the Texans to get back in the ball game, the Texans got the

lead and everyone's starting to think this can't happen. This is no way that this season is going to end like this. And it all goes on the shoulders of Nick Foles, who once again franchise record most passing yards in a game, four seventy one and really with no rushing game today, everything was on him. You look at the time of possession differential almost thirty four minutes. The Eagles had to football four hundred and sixty two total net passing yards when all is said and done, because

only fifty seven yards on the ground. This was on Nick Foles's shoulders today and he delivered in a big way. And you know, give the rest of the offense credit for coming with the big play. As you mentioned on the final drive. Alshon Jeffrey had a fifty yard catch earlier in the game third down and ten hauls the ball in the middle of the field and he had to come out for a brief time with some sort of injury. Zach Ertz I forget i don't know what

he finished with on the day. Okay, double digit receptions, double digit receptions once again for him, but getting the big catch as you mentioned, to get the deals into field goal range. Nelson Aghalore and Derres Sprawls also with big catches on that drive. So top to bottom there, this is one we're gonna be talking about and remembering for a long time. The key is you just hope that it's going to be all for a playoffs about

at the end of the day. So this reminds me we're getting we're coming out to the ten year anniversary of forty four to six. Okay, when the Eagles need all those crazy things that happen on the last day of the regular season to get into the playoffs. It sort of feels like it's that type of field going into week seventeen here, So let's get a sense of

what it's like over at Lincoln Financial Field. We're gonna bring an Eagles insider day Spadera and Amy Campbell and Dave just take us through your perspective, your advantage point watching Nick Foles gut it out after taking the big hit and leading the Eagles to that game winning drive. Yeah,

calm cool and collected poise. Everything that we've seen from Nick Foles throughout his time as a Philadelphia Eagles, spreading the football around, some really really big throws and obviously critical times third downs, getting the ball out quickly, spreading it around, and really just tormenting a Texans defense that came in. I felt the Eagles were gonna go after the cornerbacks. They lost some players in the defensive secondary, and the Eagles, as you need to do, took advantage

of great matchups. Yeah, instant classic for Nick Foles. A game we'll be talking about forever. Of course, you guys mentioned the records that he set personally in franchise wise, and just amazing throws and amazing poise coming back in from that injury, that vicious hit. I mean, if that doesn't get your blood pumping, I don't know what does. It was an awesome performance from Nichols, I'll tell you amy great job on that offensive side of the ball.

I know we'll be talking about them all show long, but I thought the defense came up with some big plays. Chris Long and Avonte Maddox stood out to me on

that side of the ball today. Avonte Maddox with a tough job of trying to guard DeAndre Hopkins, and then Chris Long coming in with some big sacks forced the fumble that I thought was a big moment in the game with Fletcher Cox recovered at talk about the old guy and Chris Long and the young guy and Avonte Maddox now they played today, Yeah, I think that's that's well said. You have the old guy and the young

guy making amazing plays and big stops here. I think one of the big stats I looked at for the Texans today was that they were three of ten on third down, So the Eagles really able to just hunker down and stop them when to get the momentum going as well. And one of the things about this Texans team is when you look at the stat sheet after their games, they don't look like they win, but they're winning. And you have that fourth quarter Deshaun Watson that always

comes into play. And so the fact that they were the Eagles were able to overcome that from the Texans today I think was huge for and I you know, frankly, I was disappointed with the way the Eagles closed out defensively, I thought with a twenty nine to sixteen lead, a thirteen point lead, you have a chance to really finish them off, and they didn't after the Josh Adams fumble and then late in the game another drive down the field. But yeah, you're right, there were some big plays. Just

I want to see sixty minutes of complete defense. Did not see it today, really did not see it last week against the Rams either, when the Eagles hung on for victory and Los Angeles, well, we have reason to feel nervous when we see something like that happened because we have seen them fall apart. Layton games allow a lot of points, especially here at home. It's happened a few times this season. So the Eagles got that thirteen point lead, and I am still very nervous at that

point until they close it out. Every game here we are a one point game with three seconds to go, and I'm nervous at the end of the game again. So yeah, sixty minutes on both sides would be a nice thing to see. Yeah, David, it's gonna take us a while, I think to calm down. But what did you think of Doug Pearson and his aggressive play calling today? Insistently early on going for our fourth down and then on the other side, you know, Bill O'Brien being much

more conservative in chances. Are you figured with Deshaun Watson as legs could have been able to get some of those fourt down conversions. Yeah, I mean the Eagles were three of three on fourth downs in the first half. That's remarkable even for somebody as aggressive as Peterson, and I think you have to have that. I mean, the Eagles are in a situation where they've got to score a lot of points, got to take some chances here. I love the way they got darren Sproles incorporated into

the past game. They felt like they could move the chains whenever they wanted against this Texans defense, as long as Nick got rid of the football and as long as Vieti left tackle Hulla hulavuty Viety gave him just enough time working against Jadaveon Clowney. That was a really tough matchup early in this game for the Eagles. When Jason Peters went out, Clowney feasted on Viti for the first half. Vitie came back with a big stech half. Yeah.

I think that's that's a great person to highlight. Like you said, he had a couple of rough moments in the first half, a couple of penalties that were actually pretty costly for this offense, stalling momentum, installing drives, but being able to bounce back against the guy like Jadavion Clowney who still continued to make an impact. But to me, it's about the timing of when those things happened, when he makes an impact. So he made his presence spelt,

But was it at costly times as much? No, it wasn't. Yeah, and guys talk about somebody band timely and making a great impact. How about zach Ertz and what he was able to do today setting a record the all time record for tight ends most catches in the season, sixteen targets a day, twelve catches, two touchdowns, one hundred and ten yards. What else can you say about zach Ertz that we haven't said throughout and delivering the delivering in the red zone once again, this is the mark of

a great tight end. He's scoring the football. And I'll tell you what's interesting about the Eagles offense. We've seen zach as the center point of the offense throughout the season. At the expensive plays down the field. Today, Nick was able to still throw the ball down the field, big played agghil Er, big plays to Alshan Jeffrey, throwing the ball,

taking chances, getting Dallas Goddard involved. Look, I think zach Ertz has come such a long way, and I'll pointing to that game against the Cincinnati Bengals a few years ago, vontez perfect. Everybody criticized Zack for not blocking perfect, and in that time from then till now, he has become more aggressive, better with the football in his hands, tougher and more physical. Yeah, certainly it's a huge accomplishment for

zach Ertz. And you know, just as soon as that milestone was accomplished, I'm imagining all the media going into the locker room and asking him about that, and he's not going to care if the team doesn't win this game. He's not going to care about that milestone. And every week he's always the first person to say I'm the one that needs to look in the mirror, even though for many of these games he was the most productive

pass catcher on this team. And so just a great accomplishment for an even better person who you just feel good about a guy like him accomplishing something like this. David and Amy thank you so much. Happy holidays. So both of you can't wait to listen to the Eagle Hide podcast and read on the inside, com was he going to delve into foles historic performance? Thanks again, guys, So, like, why don't we get into your takeaways from this victory?

And you know we're talking about the offense. We gotta start right there. And I think you know, Dave rob a great point there at the end that Foles not only was able to move the chains getting rid of the ball quickly, but still has some big explosive plays. Well, yeah, I think that's obviously. The first thing you take away from this football game is how well this offense looked. Now, we thought last week the offense looked the best that

it looked all year. I thought that was a little hyperbole, But this week, there's no denying this is the most explosive this offense has looked all year, even with the running game struggling at times to day. I thought Doug did a great job of sticking with it just to keep that Texans defense honest. But we knew the big players were gonna be through the air, you know, those

cornerbacks over there for the Texans. A little long in the tooth got banged up the day as well, so to be able to put the ball up the way they did and really have the success. They had two receivers well, two guys over one hundred yards and zach Ertz and Nelson Agilore. Good to see Nellie back in the offense. Alshane almost had a hundred yards himself, But it was really all about Nick Foles and the way

Nick was throwing the ball. Now, I look at early in the game when he was able to hit Darren Spros on those key third and short fourth and one place where he's hitting Darren Spros on that wheel route. Those are nice soft touch passes that Folds was able to deliver point right the Spros and allow him to run. So when you look at this game, Nick Foles is

the biggest thing that stands out to me. He was outstanding today, his best game in my opinion, by far, by far, the best offensive game this team has shown this season. With over five yards offense. He does not shy away from the spotlight whatsoever. Michaels your second takeaway. We've talked about zach Ertz and his historic performance another

twelve catches, but It's not like he's just patting his stats. Okay, he's getting the catches in the red zoners Dave mentioned a short time ago, and also on the final drive to get them in field goal range. So when they need clutch plays, zach Ertz is willing to deliver it. So obviously he can get you the numbers, but he also can step up in prime time. Let me let me say this real clear. You're talking about the best weapon that we have on offense and zach Ertz on

another nonsense talk. Forget about that. Zach Ertz is the best offensive weapon that we have at the skill position. Does a great job of getting open every week. Even when the team knows that he's a big part of your game plan, they try to double team him. I saw where he was double teamed in the red zone. They put the honey Badger Tyron Matthew on him. They still found ways to get in the ball. I thought last week, I enjoy going down the field to al

Sean and let him do what he was doing. But I didn't think zach was a big part of the offense last week. And a lot of this is about the game plan. So the game plan this week was to get ERTs involved and it was big time for us today, key third down conversions, big in the red zone, two touchdowns for him today, I mean man record setting

day for him. Congratulations of zach Ertz becoming the record holder for receptions by a tight end in the seasons, passing and surpassing a cowboy and Jason went in the process. It's idle, nonetheless, exactly so special right there. So your third one, you know, we'll get into some of the bad from the game, and that's taking care of the football, something that the Eagles, you know, didn't do too well today.

They were able to force a couple turnovers. They had the one fumble there, you know that the strips ecked by Chris Long, and then also a turnover and down that doesn't go in the books a turnover, but still really is treated the same. But nonetheless, the Eagles offense not taking care of the ball as well as they needed to, and it did almost cost them today. Yeah, and you got to do a better job of that.

When I look at the other key factor in this game, takeaway from this game is being able to take care of the football. It's really the only reason the Texans were in this game late. Obviously, you give him seven points by the fumble there when Nick gets sacked down there, put the ball on a five yard line, easy walk in for Deshaun Watson and then Josh Adams. I know he's a young guy, rookie. He even had both hands on the ball, but you gotta do a better job

of squeezing that thing. You know, the Texans are trying to get the ball back. That's the only way they can get back in his game is if you give them a short field to work with. And then the interception by Nick, I know that's a throw he would love to have back, trying to make a play there at his zac that's a throw that he wants to

have back. But you know, that's the one thing they did last week against the Rams was take care of the football and in order to close this season out on a high note and really give themselves a chance to make the playoffs next week by going down there to take care of Washington, we gotta take care of football. You know, you usually don't win games in the NFL when you lose the turnover battle. Eagles lost that today, and especially when you turn the ball over three times

in the game. It's difficult to win games like that, but that that just shows you how explosive this offense was the day that they were able to overcome some of those turnovers. Indeed, and there's another great offensive outing from the Eagles back to back weeks with Nick Foles and as the starting quarterback. There's something that you knew

that you had the talent on this team. It was just a matter of bringing it to fruition and credit the coaches with their game playing the last couple of weeks with a play calling the last couple of weeks and getting guys like like darren Sproles, you talk about, you know, is he soon? Who's done? You know, a lot of people as Crigs were all saying that that Sprowles had nothing left. And I remember when Sprowls was,

you know, activated and brought back into the lineup. Guys like Brandon Graham on defense were like, we need all the playmakers that we can get. He is going to help us at some point down the stretch. And this is a few weeks back when he was just getting you back on the field. And sure enough, Darren's Browles answered the bell today, not just as a Rusher as a receiver, you know, the fourth down conversion getting the touchdown. There. In fact, an interesting note on his thirty seven yard

touchdown reception. It was on the fourth down play. It was the longest receiving touchdown by an Eagle on a fourth down since go back to your day's BEDOC against Houston in two thousand and two, the fake punt fifty seven yard or so, that's the last time that there was a long touchdown receptown on the fourth down by an Eagle. So the longest since that Dawkins player right there. So you know, we go about talk about adversity and now this team has dealt with it all season long.

And we touched on in the Talkback seven with David Amy a few minutes ago. But the Eagles losing Jason Peters on the opening drive of the game. I mean, we're watching the game and we're sitting there like, wait, did Jason Peters play? We saw him on the first the first play of the game, and then vietyp goes in. So apparently Peters must have reaggravated that quad injury, That's

what the broadcast said. So Vietyight goes in in a difficult matchup against the David clown the former number one overall pick who typically is moved around the front, used as a joker. But when they knew they had that matchup, they were squaring in on that right there. So tough slodding and not all of those on vy tide. There were times when it was the block. It was a tight end who was blocking in the situation, and that's who was match up against Clowney and unfortunate that's gonna

be a mismatch right there. But still for for the offenses, still have the production that it did. It's reminiscent of the Super Bowl almost where Uf folds in that quarterback vietize your left tackle. It's all almost trying to bring it back full circle as we're trying to rekindle some of the magic from that run as the Eagles looked to try to get into the postseason once again. Yeah, we're trying to. Man, it's been a it's been a tough season for the defending champs and we're realizing how

difficult it is to repeat as champions. But they're starting to play some of their best football right now. Let's we're sending it to the lake. The Victoria's head coach Doug Pearson addressing the media, the third and ten throw to the nixt throw after you came back in the game, to Zach, can you kind of walk us through the call the last drive? Yeah, twenty yard passed. Oh oh oh yeah, yeah yeah, okay, um yeah, so you know, um,

just a call that's been in our offense. Um again, thinking thinking of our playmakers obviously, you know al Shaan making a tremendous catch and then and then Earth's uh, the two defenders for Houston actually collided, um, and which allowed Zach to really really pop free. And Nick did a great job there of just being able to be patient in the pocket, find him and put up a good throw and then have the awareness of getting out of bounce on the seine. There's been a few top

Bard orders here. What were you thinking? We got time and time outs again, and uh, have a lot of confidence in the offense. You know, it's something that um, you know, we we work on a lot. There's a two minute drive and tempo offense and um, you know, um, this league has always been about about players making plays and and uh, you know, a lot of credit to the offense today for for putting us in that position to to win this game. Nicole was plays with calmness,

with poise. But how impressive was it today, especially after he took that hit, had to come out then to come back and direct the offense. You know, that's just that's just Nick. Um. You know, he's always been calm, you know, in in in and around the you know, his preparation during the week and then of course leading up to the game. And you know, he's a guy that just wants to wants to continue to just help the team win and and and dish the ball and

put it put it in our playmaker's hands. And you know, um really not not get much credit. Just just let the other guys do it, you know. And and uh, even after taking that hit and then going back in, I thought it took a lot of a lot of courage, excuse me, a lot of courage and guts at that point to want to finish the game and come back in. And it's just credit to credit to Nick. What did he say when he came off the field for that one play? Um, I was getting Nate ready, so I

didn't talk to him. You guys think you're playing your best football this season right now heading in the next week. Yeah, I think so. I think I think he you know, um, these last you know, three four or five games, I think things have um kind of picked up for us. Uh. I do feel like at this time of the year, Uh, you know, if you want any kind of momentum, um, you know, if you get a chance to go to the postseason, you need to be playing your best football now.

And and UM I think that's uh, you know, I think that's what we're doing at this time. You got to lead for most of the game. But the past froun ratio is pretty lopsided favor of past because they were kind of depleted at a corner. Did you see their rush defense today? Thirty five yards rushing in football? It was hard criticis oh okay, okay, maybe maybe we need to run the ball more or something. But um as a tremendous defense. Now, it's a great group that

front seven eight guys with their safeties. I mean, they do it. They do a really good job. They're um uh they create um different angles for our offensive linement and so some of the things that we've been able to do on the last couple of weeks, UM they just kind of took us out of it. And and so you know, I knew we're gonna have to We're gonna have to run the ball late in the game.

You know, even when we went up the you know, by the third thirteen there, twenty nine sixteen, I felt like we could you know, get a little momentum, run the ball, make them use timehouse. You know, maybe we could finish the game at that point. But um, we didn't do it. It's just a great defense. One conversion the first have two questions. What made you go for that one? It was there an explanation as the one. Um, well, the I wanted to go up six at that point,

so that's really the the option there. Um And then um, yeah, you know it's something we'll just have to take a look at. You know, we'll send we'll send it in tomorrow and see what too we get back. But uh, um, nothing for you eighty three yard dad audible, Yes, yes, I mean like Lane Johnson on j J today, did a tremendous job. JJ's name didn't get called verty much. I'll tell you, Lane, Lane I had a great week of preparation, got it got into in his mindset, he's

he's awesome. I mean, he's awesome. He's he's a tremendous right tackle, and you know, he's had to block some really really really good defensive ends, uh this season. Um, this was probably one of the uh, probably the best one he's he's seen all season and and did a nice job, did a really nice job. And it's a credit to him and um well deserved the check out of on that audible. It was just a coverage check.

He saw something Houston had been running earlier in the game, and he saw it, got to another got to another one of them that got to a play that would attack that coverage, and uh, great protection and allowed him to get the ball down the field play It was a pass play to begin with. Yes, yeah, exact broke Wittin's record tonight today. What does he meant to your quarterbacks to have a guy, particularly on third down and in the red zone that they know can get open

and they can count on. Yeah, First of all, it's it's a great honor for Zach and and UM you know, can congratulations go to him. You know, but he's another one of those guys that very unselfish. UM quarterbacks do have a comfort level with him. You know, he seems to kind of be that guy that that uh you know exactly where he's gonna be. And um, you know, uh, he's he's obviously great after the after the catch, Uh,

runs great routes. So you know, for the quarterbacks to have that type of guy, Um, again, it just gives you that little for you know, do you especially in in crucial moments like you know, the the corner route that he ran late in the game. Um, It's just it's a monitor credit to him for how hard he works. And then and then his uh relationship with our quarterbacks. I was just proud of him, told him how proud

of proud I was. And you know, um, we had to we had to come through a lot of adversity today. Uh and and and they hung in there, they hung together as the game wore on. Our our team got tighter and tighter and tighter and played played well down the stretch. And you know, it wasn't pretty obviously. Um, you know, there were a lot of a lot of mistakes and a lot of things that went around. But but the bottom line was they they found a way

to win. Wasn't pass a certain feeling your team. Are you seeing something now and he's passed five mtums that keeps you encouragement imbout your prospects here. Yeah, I mean, you know it's the part of the message in the locker room too, was just you know, I'm proud of the way they come to work every day and prepare that day it's Wednesday or Thursday or Friday, whatever it is, they prepare that way and it pays off, you know

in these games. And um, you know, our guys don't make plays that they made today if we don't practice those situations or at least put them in situations to make those plays in practice. And you know, you're just seeing how a lot of our young guys are really maturing now and they're growing up and they are they are contributing and making some plays and you know it's not again, it's not perfect. There's still some mistakes being made, but you know, the veteran guys are rallying. The veteran

guys are making plays. They're um doing the things that we ask them to do. And that's for me. Um, that's all I can ask for. The effort is there, obviously, Um, you know, the excitement is there, The passion for the game, that desire to win, and you know, it's a resilient group. It seems like a few times this year and that resiliency, this group has been at least playoff wise, declare dead for the year, even part of today. What does it say? And how proud of you? Then you're going into week

seventeen putting something to play for us to do. It's it's everything. I mean, these guys are so excited to be to be still you know, in the hunt and and to really um, you know, we talk about controlling things that we can control. Well, we get to control where you know, our destiny a little bit. We get to make our own and create our own and and and so that's that's that's why I'm you know, these

guys never quit, you know, they they don't quit. And um, it would have been easy, you know today just to you know, kind of let your guard down at the end and and not finish the game. But um, again kind of goes back to your question. Just as a veteran group, resilient group, they hang together and they find a way to win, and and uh, you know, as a head coach, that's what you can all you can ask for Really, you gotta give Doug a live credit

for first and foremost. I cannot wait for the locker room celebration video that we will have on our social media channels or digital channels if Ladelphiels dot com. I almost want to argue we got posted I think tonight because you know it. Scotty Rockins in there too, man, Yeah, get that out there. But credit Doug for again, a couple of weeks ago, this team could have put it

in the tank. You go back to the Giants game down nineteen to three in the first half, nineteen to three, rally back, Okay, Jake Ellig gets the game winner and that was So that was probably the last one that involved a game win situation arrested me earlier about and then to get themselves in position where look, oh it's not a winning they're end it's still a win and

they need some help at this point. But nonetheless that the fact that the Eels are still in position speaks volumes to the job that Doug is done keeping this football team together. Yeah. I mean, listen a lot of questions about Doug out there, I think unjustifiably so guy's a good coaches. Super Bowl winning head coach. Guy. Yeah, I'll coach the greatest coach of all time on the biggest stage. So we know Doug knows how to coach a football team, and I think more importantly, his players

respond to him. His players typically go out there and they play hard for him. He knows how to relate to these guys. He knows how to get the most out of them. You know, I think back to the last couple of weeks and just the practice schedule throughout the week and the fact that Doug is either giving them a day off when people didn't think they would

get a day off. Last week after that Rams victory, he pushed practice back to give them more rest and that has allowed them to come out and be fresher when they stap out on the field. I'm telling you the last two weeks the job he's done as a coach to have his team ready after that difficult loss

against the Cowboys. Game against the Cowboys where they were exhausted, lost in overtime, to fly out to Los Angeles where no one's giving them a chance there too touchdown underdog, and the way they went out there and dominated the Rams. You gotta tip your cap to Doug Peterson. So some thought that they may have caught lightning in a bottle because Nick Foles was in there in the starting lineup, and they wouldn't necessarily bring the same energy this week

versus the Texas. Well, you were wrong. They came out today with the same type of energy, and I thought the offense was cooking moving up and down the field. We mentioned Doug's aggressiveness going forward on fourth down. Just look at the two coaches to day and the way they handled this game. I thought Bill Bill O'Brien coached not to lose to day, almost as if he was coaching from one of the old coaching manuals where you

punt the ball when you're at this spot in the field. Well, Dougs the type of coach that goes off of his gut, feeling sure he has analytic numbers to support the decisions that he makes, but at the same time, as a coach, he understands when his offense has it rolling or the defense is on their heels and he has the perfect play dialed up ready to go fourth or four on fourth down. He set the new trend in the NFL from last year of being aggressive and going forward on

fourth down. Guy doesn't get enough credit. You know, sometimes people forget what he just did a year ago. Guy is a very good football coach. It's not easy getting the team motivated to play after they won a championship, the fact that they won't finish under five hundred, the fact that he's had to deal with injuries all year. I felt I needed to take a little extra time to give him his credit as a head coach, because we'll pass kudos around all the players, and rightfully so.

But there's a guy who's ultimately gonna take the blame when things don't go well, and that's the head coach. So when they win a game like this, when they play as well as they are, he deserves the credit. Job. Great job. Every show, I guess every show it brings a one point or another. We get earlier in the shows that everyone out there gets to see it. We're gonna hear from Nick Foles and Zach Ertz in just

a little bit. But first, the hero at the end of the game, kicker Jake Elliott our Eagles entire days. Spaderre caught up with him on the field after the game winning thirty five yard field goal. All right once again, Jake Elliott delivers the game winning field goal. How was it out there? Man? I needed that one. He's not on the line there, so you know we're down by one and you know we missed that one earlier, so

luckily had that and glad we got it. I'm starting to think that you like can win games come down to the final moment. I mean, that's what she lived for as a kicker. You gotta love these moments. So h Yeah, the offensive a hick of a job once again getting us down the field. Rick and Cam did a hick of job getting it down. Awesome protection and we put it through they tell me about. The kick was a pure and sweet Yeah. Felt good. Jake Elliott

and mister Klutch once again. The game winning field goal today. Great bounce back for him after missing the extra point earlier in the game, to have the chance to win, to kind of rectify himself and certainly stepped up to the tasks. It seems like whenever there's been a big field goal at the end of a game, Elliot's always delivered in big times. Yeah, you need those type of kickers, like you said, you know, way to bounce back. Missed the extra point earlier in the game, but to come

down ice water in his veins kick that in. Yeah, nice job there, Jakie. You mentioned earlier that the Deals were four for four on fourth down in this game. Let's not forget they were nine of sixteen on third down, including two for two on the game winning drive. The one was the past Alison Jeffrey over the mill, then adding the rough and the passer call on Jadevan Clowney, and then the twenty yard completion to zach Ertz both

plays third and ten. So the Eel struggling to get the yards and early down to try to get themselves in mandible situations didn't marry for Nikki six today whatsoever? There, cool calm and collective. Great job on that route too. I thought it was a nice little concept there where the Texans are in man deepense. They got Tyron Matthew lined up on zach Ertz there, but because of a little bunch set there, zach ert Is nice was able to run a nice little rough route, causing the linebacker

and Tyron Matthew to run into each other. Tyron Matthew falls down, zach Ertz wide open bilbo range. There you go. That's ball game exactly. So let's get to our unsung heroes of the game and Ike, I'll let you start things off here. Well, I'm gonna go with the old man, Chris Long. Man, Chris Long, we got we became so accustomed to him making these plays last year where he would get the big strip sack late in the game,

force a fumble game over. Did something very similar to that today when he got that sack on the Seants in his second one and he's able to get that ball out of there. Fletcher Cox gets that from a recovery. I thought Chris Long was huge day. They've needed some extra pass rushers. Michael benn has been doing a fantastic job. We know what Fletcher Cox brings. Brandon Graham robbed double sack today on a bogus rough in the quarterback penalty there,

but Chris Long. They needed that extra speed rusher coming off the edge, and against this Houston Texans offensive line that have given up the most sacks in the league this year. I thought, great job from the wily veteran think about the Texans, great job of taking care of

the football we're talking about. The Eagles have struggled with that the Texans had not had a turnover in four consecutive games coming into this contest, so the force that fumble right there was huge and led to Zach Urch's second touchdown of the game, which made the score twy nine the sixteen And at the time, I'll be honest, I'm celebrating, thinking, yeah, they've got this. Okay, But as things have gone this season, the Eagles are taught us we should know better right now. Okay, what was it

you first time? You know? Shame it's it's one of those third four times, whatever it's been. You know, we should know better by this point in the year. I'm gonna go offensive line here and I'm gonna go with number sixty five Lane Johnson. Okay, he was ticked off. He was math that he was not named to the

Pro Bowl. And I can understand because injuries have kind of limited his play, but he felt that he had played well enough while he was out there, and the fact that he was an All Pro last season, that he should have deserved enough respect from around his front, around the league, from his teammates around the league, his peers, that he should have been named to the Pro Bowl. Once again. Well, that wasn't the case, so he decided to take it out on JJ Wat, the three time

NFL Defensive Player of the Year. You barely heard his name mentioned at all during the telecast. And because of the injury to Jason Peters, Big v Hollapolavadi Vita need all the help that he could get taking care of j Devi and Clowney on the other side, so Lane Johnson was left alone with one on one many times. Got the course of the game, Lane came to play.

Lane took air of the deal and made sure to erase JJ Watt to keep him, keep Foles as clean as possible and keep Watt off the sack tally sheet because what I think had fourteen and a half sacks come into this game. So certainly big kudos to Lane Johnson for keeping foals clean and taking out a player who has disrupted many a game during his time in the NFL. So those are unsung heroes. And it'll be interesting to see what the offensive line going to next

week's game. Is this thing with Jason Peter something that's gonna linger. Will he be able to bow back or do you at least get ye tire ready to say all week. This is your show because right now you look at that left side of the line. Stephan Wisnoski, he opened the season as a starter, you know, was bench for Isaac say Amalo Saimal got hurt, missed the game once again, so Wiz has been back in there

as a starter. And at left tackle, Peter's going down, so viyetie step But in guess what this was your offensive line during the Super Bowl last year from left or right here. So it's all coming together. It seems like at the right time. The question is, well, enough thing's happened to get the Eagles into the playoffs or they at least have a chance in the tournament. Yeah, if I'm big v you need to be ready to go.

I mean, Jason Peters obviously wants to play. He's gonna do whatever he can to get out there on the field. But sometimes it's not just about when you're talking about Jason Peters, it's just not getting him to the game and started the game. He's gonna have to finish the game. And listen, thirty six years old, longer than two. If I saw stat today where Jason Peters they did it. They put up a chart where it said it had position players from two thousand, from two thousand and four

that's still in the league. It has only one offensive tackle from two thousand and four that's still in the league, and he plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, and it's Jason Peters. So guy's been around a long time. We know five years after he's done playing, he's more than likely headed to can't know, Ohio, But Big V, it's that time of the year that you need to be ready. You need to prepare this week as if you're going to be the starter. Jason Peters is gonna do everything he

can to get himself ready to play next week. You know the game is big. He wants to be a part of it. But Big V, you know, as a backup buddy, you gotta be ready to go as if you're the starter. That is right. So, speaking of Lane Johnson, Davis Spanera caught up with him on the field after the Eagles went over the Texans. Let's go to that interview right now here now with right tackle Lane Johnson. Lane, what was it like in the huddle there that last drive?

I surprisingly calm among all the chaos. All we want to do we try to get a field goal range. We felt like we were pretty pretty consistent Dickon and Duncan and and got it done. Great battle with J J. Watt. What was it like for you today out there? It was a battle exactly that the whole game. We're starting to finish. So great player. Um, you know, I love going against great talent and uh you know, hats all to Lane. Final game here Lincoln Financial Field this season.

What can you say to these great fans for the support they've shown once again this year. We're not finished yet. You gotta keep you gotta keep watching. Anything can happened. We always battled to the very amen Lane Johnson Eagles right tackle. It's like I'm watching stone cold Steve Auson there, you know, even with with the drama, the way he speaks, it's like he's speaking to the crowd at like a wrestling match. Right, That's exactly him right there to a tea.

So let's talk about the defensive side of the football. Great job stopping the run. Neither team could get the run game going. Obviously Deshaun Watson was able to make magic with his feet, but in terms of the running backs, nothing going. Tough sledding for both teams today. But what did you think of the Eagles their inability to keep Watson continue. I thought they did overall better job of it in the second half, But then you saw the one play I think I forget what the end result was.

I think it was a pass of Hopkins down the left side, and then yes, he spun around three times. Okay, you seem like everyone had a chance at him, but he's able to break free to be able to get the pass away. Yeah, exactly, So you thought that was gonna be the ball game, but your thoughts on the defense not be able to keep content on him, you know, very much plays like like it was like watching Russell Wilson and the struggles the Eels have had with Wilson

over the years. Very much of it seemed like in the same vein watching watching out there today. Yeah, slightly less dangerous version of Russell Wilson, because you know how Russell will take off if he needs to. But DeShawn it's no different, man, I mean, Deshaun Watson. It's it's it's what keeps defensive coordinators up late at night, you know, when they're trying to game plan for this guy, because

you know these defensive linemen. You know, they want to pin their ears back and just get after the quarterback. But you gotta put in a game plan where you gotta sometimes tell your d lineman to don't get up, don't don't rush up the field, rush to the level of a quarterback and wait and see where he's at, keeping boxed in, because you know, if you rush past him, you're gonna create running lanes for him and he's gonna

take off. And the dangerous thing with him is sometimes he's just uh buying time to throw the ball down the field. All right, listen to the leg zach Er speaking about his record taking day. Now, well you're eleven. I mean, what's going on in the huddle at that point? Yeah, I mean I think um that that fourth quarter kind of those circumstances has kind of been the pitome of our season, and we did not blink. I mean, the guys in the huddle were so confident. Folds was so confident,

everyone was so calm that. I mean, we've been in that situation so many times together and no one flinched. And I mean, I think that's the mark of a good team. Obviously, the season isn't exactly where we thought we would be. But I mean a lot of guys would have kind of mailed it in. I mean, to be up twenty nine to sixteen with four minutes left and to be down and the blink of an eye is tough, but guys didn't blink. Guys stay together, and I mean that's the Markets team. We're always going to

stick together. We truly care and love one another. Um. I think you guys can see that each time you interact with the guys in the locker room. It's not an individual game for us by any means. Guys just want to play to the best of their abilities. So that for each other, and I think that the mark of a great team. Nick came back in the huddle after getting knocked down. Yeah, I mean obviously the place went crazy, but we just wanted to make sure he was good. And I think the way he jogged off

the field, everyone thought he was gonna be good. Um, sat out of play and came back and let us down the field like it's he seems to do. Um. I mean, he played out of his mind to set the franchise record for passing yards. Incredible. Um, He's just an unbelievable player, unbelievable person. He's so calm, his demeanor is so calm, and he's really good player. Um. It was just kind of the scissors corner route that we always have post by number one. I had a corner

Darren was to the flat. Um. I'd been taking a lot of inside releases against him. UM, so I kind of sold the inside release, kind of threw him inside, and I think he kind of ran into the linebacker. UM. I think he tried to something happen where my feet got tangled up, and so I was kind off balance and Nick just kind of laid the ball out there allowed me to run under it, and I was able to stay in bound and make the play. And I

tried to get out of bound in that situation. UM. I don't think I've truly I don't think I've truly come to grips with it yet. I Mean, one thing I do know, I'm thankful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ UM for allowing me to be here. I'm thankful for everyone that's helped me along the way. The one thing I do know is I didn't get here by myself. I mean, Jason Witten has been as has been a huge part of this. UM, So technically I think a part of him still has the record. UM.

Brent Sellick has been huge for me. UM. There's just been so many people along the way that have helped me that I'm just eternally grateful for. UM. But like I said, what I do know is that I didn't do this by myself. I think it truly takes a village to become a professional athlete. My family, my wife. UM, So thankful for everyone that's helped me along the way. UM.

And it is special though. I mean having that record is something that hopefully it will last a while, but if not, I'll be happy for the next guy to do it. UM, but it is special. I haven't really checked my phone yet, UM, so I don't know. We're involved throughout the game specially. Was that part of the game plan. Was that something you saw that you could take advantages to himself? UM. You know they're a big zone team. They're big zone defense and finding zones. It's

kind of something that I take a lot of pride in. UM. But I mean they're a really good defense that front for those front seven guys, really really talented. Clowney Watt McKinnon really talented players. We weren't able to run the ball probably guys efficiently as we wanted to. Um, we didn't run the ball great. UM. So most of that was due to their talent in their front seven. So we kind of had to pass the ball more. UM. And I'm just glad we won the game. That is

the bottom line. To have that that many targets and catches it and to win the game feels really really good. UM. And that is what I love. The second touchdown, Zach, you got White open? How MU sure that was the motion going the other way that kind of threw them off. I mean, I think the motion was a part of it. I think al Sean, being as big and physical as he is, the guy kind of ran into him. Um. He didn't mean to pick him by any means, he just kind of ran into al Sean. Um. The jet

motion I think threw him off a little bit. But Nick just kind of losted it out there. I thought I was gonna get hit when I saw no one was around me. I try to make a play. And when you're that, I think when you're that, I think when you see the goal line like that. UM, I'm just always trying to make a play for the team. M guys blocked their butt off downfield. Um, I was just happy we scoring. Yeah, you guys have won four year, last five now with rolling a little bit and be still,

you know it's not just you. You guys have to most of other things happen out tough. Is that too, to be playing this well finally as a team and have to rely on other people? Yeah, like you said, I mean it is tough. It's tough not to really control your own destiny. But at the same time, if you focus on everything else that's going on, and then we have a slip up because we're not focused on

our job and it's really not gonna matter. So we've said for a while now every game is a must win game that that's the way we've approached these past five games. I mean, we were four and six at one point after the Saints when we just got smacked down there and no one quit. Everyone was focused on just doing their job better, and I think that's the

mark of a good team. Obviously, we need some help, and hopefully we do get some help, but at the same time, we're focused on beating the Redskins, putting together a really good week of practice, because I mean we practice really hard. That's I think that's the that is the I think. I think that's the hallmark of this team, the way we've practice each and every week and hopefully, I mean, we just need to go there and win.

We can't look at it if the Bears win, and or if the Vikings win, or if the Seahawks lose twice. We just got to focus on being the best team we can next week against the Redskins, against another really talent up front. Um and some I mean that defense is extremely talented. About Nick, that makes the team rally around him. Um, he's extremely calm. Um he's always exuding positivity. UM not. I mean it's hard to talk well about one guy and then um if it seems the comments

are going to come off as demeaning another. So I don't want to do that by any means. I just want to solely focus on Nick. Um. He's he's playing at an extremely high level. Um. We love playing for him because he's always exuding that positivity and guys love playing for him. I mean, he's always going to give us a chance on those jump balls, those fifty fifty balls, Um, and I think you just ultimately trust us to make plays. And he's done that for years here. Um, he's a

really talented quarterback. What have you noticed out of him during a week on the sidelines that kind of thing. Yeah, I mean, he is the first guy helping out Nick Um what he sees Um in the game plan. He's there early, trying to help those guys out, trying to help I think, just with the game plan. So he's still in that same role where he's getting there extremely early, staying late, helping those guys out anyway he can. I mean, and I think that's the mark of a of a leader.

No matter what's going on individually, he's always focused on the team, and I think that's why guys respect him so much. I Mean, he's been through a ton of adversity, but at the same time, everyone knows he's a leader of this team. He's a franchise and when and if he gets back this year, I can't wait to play with him. At the same time, Nick is playing extremely

well and we're pumped to have both of them. All Right, what a day for zach Ert setting the We were wondering what it was gonna come Okay, he came into this game with one hundred and one receptions on the season, needed nine to tie Jason Witten's record for most catches

by a Titan in a single season in NFL history. Well, early third quarter, first play of the second half, in fact, he sets the record and then adds to it twelve catches on the day, another double digit receiving day for him, and a lot of people thought that, well, Nick Foles is coming in a quarterback, and said Carson Wentz, that's

gonna be the end of Arch's run. He go back to the beginning of the season, the games against the Falcons and the Bucks, Erz was heavily involved in the offense, and certainly he took a backseat last week in the win over the Rams to get the guys in the outside more involved. But today against a defense that was fifth in the league in scoring defense and points allowed. Coming into his contest, you knew that you had to move the change because if you got to the red zone,

Texans were tied for twenty six in red zone defense. Okay, so once you can get the ball inside the twenty, you would be able to score on them, and Zachers did just that. And also added a couple of big plays. He scored once in the red zone ad a twenty yard reception on the final drive. So top the bomb. Just a great day and just a great player. I mean, we're talking about someone who's probably gonna be in the

Eagles Hall of Fame. He's gonna shatter all the receiving records for the team when all is said and done. It again, he's setting now the benchmark for most catches by the tight end and we're in the golden era of tight ends in the NFL, going from Tony Gonzalez and you look at the names on that list of the guys he surpassed this season. So the fact that he has climbed over those players you mentioned earlier, he beat his idol, the guy he looked up to as

a role mile in Jason Witten, for the record. So kudos to him for someone who is not just a championship player on the field, but you look at what he's done in the community. He and Julie Earth setting up the Earth's Family Foundation to help communities and need throughout the country and the world with the work they're doing in Haiti as well. So just a top notch character individual, a great locker room guy. This is the guy that you want to have as one of the

foundational pieces of your franchise. Yeah. Best tight end in football, Nah, yeah, we don't need to say arguably anymore. Now best tight end in football are the numbers will bear itself out. I expect him to be first team All Pro this year for the first time in his career as the number one tight end in football, and he's deserving of it. It's not easy to play that position in this league

when you are the focal point of the offense. It's one thing if you have weapons on the outside, which allows you as a tight end to operate in zone defenses without any without any defenses focusing in on you. But zach Ertz is the number one weapon on the Eagles offensive side of the ball, and teams going to every game trying to take away Number eighty six and most weeks they just can't do it. And so you

don't think that. This week, the Houston Texas decided, well, we're not going to cover number eighty six, which is let everybody else. Well, we'll stop everybody else and let eighty six get his note. They had double coverage on him at times. They put one of their better athletes on him and Tyron Matthew at times, and it did not matter. Zach Ertz. If that ball is in his catch radius, he is typically coming down with the ball. And we continue to see bit by bit he's adding

the run after the catch. The second touchdown that he got when he caught the ball about fifteen when he yards short of the end zone and was able to make some moves and get in the end zone on that play. By the way, great jobs blocking down the field. Just you know, kudos to Zach you said, great guy, great on and off the field. Um. I know the Eagles organization know exactly what they have in Zach Ertz

and they certainly appreciate it. We as fans and better recognize what we have and this guy, he's he's a great a player on the field, even better quality of a teammate and a person off the field. We're lucky he's wearing Midnight green. Yes. Indeed, speaking of Tyranne Matthew, he was a guy in courage on Nelson Agilor's huge touchdown. We really haven't touched on this mistake. You know, the

explosive plays. Coming back to the offense once again, Alshan Jeffrey with a fifty plus yard reception or catching run. But when the Eagles need to break the tie in the second half, how about Nelson Agilor. We're finally seeing that vertical speed, that ability to stretch the field. That's that's something that has been lacking from this offense for most of the year. You give Foals credit for turning the ball loose, willing to take those chances. Well, Nelson

al it was a dime of a throw to Aglore. Okay, he haulted in. You know, Tyron Matthew fell down afterwards. So Nelson Aglo just basically stood at the goal line, turned around all of the Cardinals game I think it was last year, and just fell in the back of the end zone to cap off the touchdown. Had a couple of other clutch catches for the team, so again going over one hundred yards, two receivers going over one hundred yards. But Nelson Aglore just one of the the

X factors for the Eels today. You know, you have your stars and Ertz and Jeffrey, but you need those other guys to make big plays, and Aglore was one of those guys today. Well, I know that Texas must have been scratching their heads, like who do we cover? You know, you got number eighty six, You gotta worry about it, zach Ertz. You got Golden Tate out there, you got Alice Sean Jeffrey out there, and then you got Nelson Aglore who can certainly go down the field.

And they found a matchup where they were able to get Nelson matched up one on one with Tyron Matthew. Now, if you do that in a yard box, you know, Tyron Matthew may be able to stay with Nelson Aglow, but she started getting down the field. Yeah, Tyron Matthews a safety, not a cornerback. There's no way he's going

to be able to keep up with Nelson Agholor. Good job by Nick Foles recognizing the single high coverage could have gone to Zach Ersch who was crossing the middle of the field there also and one on one coverage, but decided to give Nelson the opportunity to make a play. And like you said, Nick basically playing fearless taking that shot, recognizing that coverage back there and saying I'm gonna let

my guy go up and make a play. Nelson, great job making the play there, and then I love the little nest plunge he does when he falls into the end zone. This indeed, so going back and looking at the defensive effort here, it's interesting because you know how shorthanded the Eagles are in the secondary. Okay, and Avante Maddox, you know, started last week at corner, you know, fared well against the likes of Robert Woods and Brandon Cooks.

This week a much bigger, more difficult task than I say, bigger in terms of just size alone, because you know, Max has given up hike to the guys like you know, Damarius Thomas and of course DeAndre Hopkins arguably the best receiver in football, and some of the catches he made today, we're just simply outstanding, you know. And you needed the

defensive line to get the pressure on Deshaun Watson. The problem was every time they got the pressure on, he was able to flush his way out of the pocket and use his legs to turn to churn out some big gains there. But overall though, it was also interesting because it's adding pressure onto the offensive Nick Foles knowing that they have to sustain those drives. The Eagles dominating the time of possession battle once again, and they almost

needed to it. Even though thirty two thirty doesn't sound like a huge shootout, it's not the fifty one to forty five we saw from the Chiefs and Ramps. But it felt like the Eagles knew that every time they had the ball they had to sustain drives at least get a couple of first downs or put points on the board. Because of the fact that the Eagles, being shorthanded on defense, you know, can only do so much

to limit the explosiveness that the Texans did present. So again, I thought they did a better job the second half, but then in the fourth quarter we saw some leakage there, especially in the secondary. Some of it was all watching in the amazing places. We talked about that time where he spun around three times and you know, was able to convert a third and long into a twenty two

yard game. But still, you know, when you're looking down the stretch at a possible playoff run, it'll be interest interesting to see what kind of gas this defense will have left for going against some of these potential high powered offenses. Listen, I don't want to get into next year, because we're a long away from that. But I do know one thing, and number twenty nine out there, he's

a starter. He's a starting cornerback. He is a starting When you say starting cornerback, are you saying outside corner, outside corner? When I was singing him matched up on DeAndre Hopkins out there, and he went up and played bump and run coverage on him, and then when Deshaun Watson tried to throw an out route to him, he basically had to overthrow him because it would have been an interception. That's the that's the tight knit coverage Maddox

had on DeAndre Hopkins out there. And listen, you said DeAndre Hopky is arguably the best wide receiver in football. So I'm not gonna sit here and tell you Avontae Maddox shut down DeAndre Hopkins. He certainly got his catches and his yards, but I'll tell you what, first look, those catches and yards didn't come in. Twenty nine was covering him. Twenty nine was over there like a blanket

on him. Had one play in zone coverage where he came off of DeAndre Hopkins and Sean Watson was trying to hit the number two receiver on the out route, and Avonte Maddox almost had the interception there. Hit didn't write in his hands. That's why he play his corner and not wide out. But man, you just look at his his his ability to change direction, his ability to get down in that stance and break on the football

when he sees that has thrown. You know, most cornerbacks you line up across from DeAndre Hopkins, you're a little nervous, especially as a rookie, and you want to sort of play off so that you can react to everything. I saw him mix the coverages up on DeAndre Hopkins out there. He played off sometimes, he played up on the line, wasn't afraid the challenging at the line of scrimmage so much to the point that Houston recognized this and they

started moving Hopkins to the other side of the offensive formation. So, Man twenty nine, that's two weeks in a row. You've seen him play on the outside against some of the best receivers. Last week, Robert Woods, Brandon Cooks. They tried him multiple times with Reynolds last week. They couldn't convert on him. This week, not very many throws down the field. Anything they call on the vantae. Maddox this week was pretty much underneath and you'll sort of give that up. So, man,

I'm loving the way Maddox is planning. We had watched him play safety and we were impressed with him having the ability to adjust and play safety for the first time ever. But man, watching him play corner, I didn't realize he had that type of foot speed and that

type of reaction in instincts at the cornerback position. Watching him out there the last couple of weeks, I'm excited to see some more of him out there because, man, we haven't seen that type of technique and at that position, you know, on a consistent basis, We just had no I think what's interesting is he played outside a pit. He didn't play nickel, he didn't play safety. He was an outside corner. Okay, he was good at taking the

ball away. The thing is, when you look at his size, a lot of people automatically said, is he's your nickel corner, And I think that's what the Eagles paid for him to be at some point down the line. But he has proven himself to be comfortable on the outside. Like you mentioned, with the physicality he brings to the position, the technique, the awareness of the position that and there

are corners that size league. One of my former teammates, I played with him when he first came into the league, undrafted player, right out of this area, Shippingsburg, Brent Grimes. Brent Grimes can't be taller than five five. I mean, I don't know what exact height is, but I know he's short. But he's a great athlete. He's a great athlete. And I remember watching him in training camp and Emmett Thomas was our coach down there in Atlanta, and Emmett loved him. He loved him. I'm like, man, he's a

short guy, but Emmett loved his technique. He the fact that he wasn't afraid to get up in challenge receivers. And what over a decade or something later, he's been the multiple Pro Bowls, he's been all players in the league. Yeah, still in the league to this day, Brent Grime. So

size doesn't necessarily matter. If you're a smart football player and you play fearless and you're not afraid to get up and challenge guys, man, you don't worry about your height because the one thing of Vonte Maddox knows he's been short all his life, so he's adjusted to his height. It's like Darren Schros, He's been that size his whole life, so doesn't bother him. Bryan Westbrook is another guy that

it sort of reminds me of guys like that. They don't allow those limitations to be placed on them to tell them they can't do something. What they do is they accept the challenge and they go out to prove coaches, players, scouts, whomever wrong that they can play in a Vonte Maddox man. I know it's early. I don't want to overreact to him, but just two weeks of watching him play on the outside, you really get to see some of his coverage skills

because playing safety you really don't know. But playing out there on that corner against some of the guys quick man and against some of the guys he's had to go up against, he's gotten tested the last two weeks

and he's passed it. With flying colors. Also getting back to the defense here, some more reinforcements coming, Tim Jernigan back in the lineup, helping with that run defense, and you're hoping that you know he can stay healthy and bring it for the last game of the regular season next week in Washington, and Jordan Hicks having a tip pass and a nice open field tackle. You still felt Nigel Bram still definitely had more snaps. He was the

dime linebacker out there for the defense. But still, you know, you need that the leadership, that playmaking ability that Hicks has. It's great to see both of those guys. You're trying to get stronger up the middle here down the stretch. Great to see Jordan can help with that run defense and Hicks with that coverage ability being able to give you some some quality snaps today. Yeah, you just gotta

hope that it is not too late. You want you want to be playing obviously your best football this time and a year, and the Eagles seem to be getting healthy, starting to get guys back out there, especially on that defensive side of the ball, which is really hampered them all year long. You know, guys, shuffling guys in and out of the lineup makes it very difficult for the defensive coordinator and Jim Schwarts to come up with a

game plan. Use his four arsenal in his playbook, because when you're trying to learn the personnel that's being brought in week the week, like it was in the secondary. It's difficult for a coach when he doesn't really know what you're good at doing versus what you're not good at doing, so it kind of handcuffs him as to what he can call out there. And that's why I've been tipping my cap to Jim Schwartz the job he's

been doing this year. You know, people complain about not bringing extra guys for pressure or what have you, but the fact that he's losing guys or he's lost guys week out the week out the week, and he's really his unit has kept you in the game every week.

Sure you'll like them to finish some games a little bit better, but again I remind you he's playing shorthanded, especially in the secondary, and to be able to come up with coverages and to be able to put guys in position so that they can excel and make plays, it's not easy to do. I mean, it's guys out there right now, Chris, it's seventy four. I didn't even know who seventy four was today, I'm like, who is seventy four on this team? He had a big sack

today on Deshaun Watson. So Sean Hall coming to the former third round pick. I just think, I just think what the defensive coordinator has been able to do this year with these guys and these guys responding to him out there, I think it's been nothing short. They're commendable because listen, I when you get injuries that can decimate a defense real quick and to slow down quarterback like

Deshann Watson, stop this running game today. I mean really, the last couple of weeks of defense starting to get turnovers too, was that like seven turnovers they had three against the Cowboys, I believe also, So to get turnovers the way they had the last three weeks, that's what you need. That's what they were doing last year that they hadn't been doing all year. And you can see it starting to come around. Now. All right, we're waiting here from quarterback Nick Foles, so we'll talk about the

playoff picture here for a moment here. So the Eagles, because of Dallas, Dallas winning clinches the Cowboys the mcast, so they've won the division. So the Eagles at best can get a wildcard spot Minnesota. They were able to hold on to beat Detroit, so they are eight six and one, So the Eagles would still need to win next week and hopefully Minnesota loses, that would give the

Eagles the edge over Minnesota. The Eagles can still get the edge over the Seahawks, who played the Chiefs tonight on Sunday Night Football, if the Seahawks lose their final two games, and of course if the Eagles win next week. So the Eagles have to win next week first and foremost, they are not getting in the postseason without being Washington next week. The Eagles, while they can't win the division,

can still finish with the fifth seed. Okay, if they're able if the Viking is lose and the Seahawks drop their final two games, and of course if the Eagles win their game against Washington next week. So if the Seahawks win tonight, are they in? Are they locked in? And nine to six on that one, because I think they have the tiebreaker over the Eagles because a conference record, so I think they may have. They may have their heads.

I'm not sure if they actually can if they be in Kansas City tonight, but we still know there's one spot that will definitely be open. So next week the Eagles will do a little bit of score board watching.

We got to take care of business. And because of what happened earlier this season, you know, blowing the leads against Carolina and Tennessee, that's put them in this positions where certainly you could say if they had won one of those games, they would be on their way, but the journey wouldn't be what it is without those difficult losses along the way to get them to this point. So, like you said, the Eagles are playing their best football at this time of year. The offense is clicking, the

defense is generating takeaways. I felt all year, for the most part, the defense was playing the same level as it was a year ago. Okay, even though it was undermanned, especially along the defensive line. You don't have the waves, you don't have the different lines of defensive lineman coming after the quarterback. This year, it's been pretty much Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett, Chris Long. Those have been your guys on the edges. And you would have Josh we as a

rotational guy. You would have we talk about Dashawn Hall now coming in as a rotational guy, but those have been your three main core guys and those are some older crafty veterans here in the league playing a live

snaps and then inside. You haven't had Tim Jurn again for all but two games this year, so it's really been the Fletcher Cock show, you know, first and foremost in the middle there, and you have other guys like like Nada and we're seeing Treyvon Hester had a sack today, Bruce Hector, some other guys have been helping as complimentary pieces. Obviously Graham and Bennet can move inside if need beyond

pass rushdowns. But for the most part, it's been the star Wars along the defensive line, holding it down, holding it all together there. Yeah, I mean, it's just been that type of year where we saw last year the Eagles had the deepest defensive front in the game, the best defensive line in the game. They went eight deep last year. And injuries will do that to you. They will deplete your roster, they will deplete any position. And to have a couple of injuries at that position, Derek Barnett,

Hallodi Nada has been banged up. You mentioned Tim Joern again being banged up. That certainly has depleted the depth on the roster. But you gotta get those old guys a lot of credit. Man. They aren't making any excuses. They're being asked to play more plays than thought coming into the season, and for the most part, I think

they've held up. You know, the thing I always say about defense, the defensive front and the back seven, they work hand in hand, right, So when you want your defensive front to be dominating, sometimes that back seven has to force the quarterback to hold the ball a little bit longer. The quarterback is able to get rid of the ball quick. That sort of neutralizes what your defensive line can do, and vice versa. You got a defensive line just dominating up front, that's gonna help your secondary

out and not force them to cover as long. So it works hand in hand. And sometimes we don't know which is first, the chicken or the egg, Right, which came first? We don't know. I guess we'll put it on the defensive line to put them up front, because that's where it typically starts, that up front. But when you look at Cox, when you look at Brandon Graham, when you look at Michael Bennett and Chris Um, had you lost either one of those guys for any extended

period of time, this year. I don't know if the Eagles would be where they are right now, not whatsoever. It's amazing we've gone this long in the show. As thrilling as this comfort behind victory was that we haven't talked about the referees. Okay, we don't, that's why it is, of course, we don't need to spend a ton of time.

But but some very difficult calls, especially in the first half where it happened on you know, back to back drives where Nick Foles, you know, Nick Foles was going on the two point conversion and to David Clowney basically ripped off his helmet, jerking his neck back wasn't called whatsoever. And they showed the referees right there staring at the play. It was clear as day for them to see not

making the call there. And then on the next drive Brandon Graham coming in and coming call for the helmet to helmet hit. You know, some tough breaks for the Eagles that made the game much closer than it had to be. So, speaking of Nick Foles, let's send it over to the length the hero himself number nine. Addressing the media at Lincoln Financial Field, Doug said that he checked from one half play to another. What did you see in the coverage? Yeah, I just saw a unique

coverage that they play. Um, and you know, we had a play in our arsenal that you know wasn't the one that was called. And I felt like, you know, I had time on the clock to check it and really take a shot with you know, some speed, you know, with Nelly, and you know we were able to execute it and Nell he made an amazing play and finished

it off with a touchdown. And you know it was really just all of us being on the same page, recognizing the coverage, understanding how to run the route, and you know, the line gave me time to you know throw it. So it was awesome. I took quite a shot in the in the sternum there. Um, how severe hit was that? And how were you able to get up from that? Oh? It was a great hit. Um, Yeah, he got a good one on me. Um. Yeah, you know,

trainers got out there. I was able to get my breath back back, my you know, ribs a little sore, but on all I feel great. Um, I was able to you know, I have to go out for a play and they went in and you know, great experience for him to go into a game. Um, but then I was ready to roll. I felt, I feel great. The crowd's reaction kind of willing you back in into that thing. I'll have to like see a different copy.

I was more focused on just the people in front of me and knowing if we caught the ball or not. I had no clue if Alstron had caught it in anything, so I was trying to figure out what the scenario was. But the crowd was amazing a day. Um, it's always a you know, it's always a joy to come out here and play in the link and where this jersey and you know they were they were amazing, Um, and you know we're grateful for that. How did the X ray start? I'm great. Great. On that last drive after

he came back in, I felt really good. You know, once I was able to move around a little bit, I felt really good. I was excited to get back out there with the guys. A lot of players talk about how calm you are on the field, But how tough was it for you to to keep your calm after that two point conversion? Try? And how much of that part? Yeah, I mean, that's not what i'd normally do. But I also know that, you know, John and I had to talk later. You know, it's hard for them

to see every angle. And I understand that I was just a little upset and I shouldn't do that, but you know I was. I was fired up a little bit. You know, it's a game. You know, we're going out there to win, UM against you know, one of the best teams in the NFL right now. So we were able to you know, calm back down, get the crowd going UM and ultimately get a w they found down to go from having them come back on you and then you guys come back and get that win in

the last seconds. What's what's that like? You guys go through that. Yeah. I mean, I think the thing I talked about a lot is adversity UM and just sticking together as a team communication, And I think we saw a lot of that tonight. We saw a team that's

stuck together through all the ups and downs of the game. UM. We saw you know, Jake Elliott, who's one of the best kickers in the league, you know, miss the extra point and then all of a sudden, our our team, UM give him ability at the end of the game and he has to kick the game winner. That's what this team's about, is just sticking together, um, loving one another, doing that every single play, not worrying about anything else but the play called, and you know it was on

full display today. You want to I got certain thrill on the last drive to as zach Nick surprised he was that wide open. Um. Well, there was a lot of stumbling going on, so like as I was releasing I tried to put a little bit more air on it because I was hoping he would keep his feet. Um. But you know, the defender, Zach ranner a great route. The defender stumble, Zach was able to keep his feet and make a play and that that was a huge part of the game. But uh, you know, anytime he's

running a route, I expecting to win. I'm going to talk without the ref after the two play conversion. What what did you say to him about that play? I just asked him if he saw what I felt, and he didn't at the time, but we had a great conversation later. You know, it's a hard job to see everything. So they did the best they could. Sing more of that or they hit at the end of the game, which hurt more of that or I feel great, body feels great, so nothing's hurting. So I'm good. You got that.

When he went on the field at the end, everybody was real calm, confident about matching blog down. Yeah. The big thing I talked to the guys about is just being in the moment when we're in the huddle. That's all you worry about. Just worry about that play. You can't you know, you can't do it all at once. Just focus on that play. Trust each other. And yeah,

it was calm in the huddle. I mean there's chaos going all around, but we're able to keep it calm in the huddle and that that's important in a game like that, especially when you're going down in a two minute drill to win a game where it's been you know, back and forth and it's been a battle. Um, you know, everyone did a great job executing that last drive. Someday then, uh, you know what that's all up to coach. I'll let him talk on everything. Physically physically, I feel great. I

feel great. I feel great, Yes, in this starting role now and possibly next week breaking the all time singing a passing record and a chance to take us a team in the playoffs. Again, the house special is this because we don't know what your future is after this year? Yeah, I think that. You know, I've said it many times. Just staying in the Momentum, I'm fortunate to work with great people, for fortunate to have great teammates, everyone with

an overcare facility. Um. It's really been a joy throughout my career to you know, be in that facility, be there, um and work with everyone. Um. So yeah, I mean I'm just really just staying in this moment. I'm gonna enjoy you know, Christmas with my family. Um, you know, my daughter or my wife. Those are the things that are so important to me. I'm getting it. I haven't seen them yet. Um, so I'm excited to go you know,

my mom, dad, little sister here, or my knee. So that's the things that are that are really special, especially this time of year. Just going to embrace them and spend time with them. So it's the stuff I'm looking forward to talking about other players talking about you inspired them. Christmas shrine trine to you week, What did you think of the shrine? And two do you get the feeling? You get that feeling from any other players in the locker room. Chris is a character. We have a long

history together. Um, love them. Um. I think the big thing is, I just want to be me. Um. I want the guys to know that when I go in there there, that's who I am. Um. You know when I step in the huddle, I'm not going to change when I'm you know, we're at restaurant or out in public, like, I want to be who I am. I want to be genuine and I think that you know, that's that's a powerful thing. Um. There's a lot of times where we try to be politically correct, and you know, we

don't get to show our personalities. UM. I know Doug says, I know, Andy Reid says it. Um, but they always taught me, you know, let your personalities show. You know, we all come together as a team. Um. We have excess and knows. But the way teams win is there's personalities. Let them show, let them play stick with one another. And you're seeing a lot of that throughout the game. You're seeing a lot of that in practice and meetings and and that's really important. That's what a family is.

Everyone's different, but everyone can come together in a common goal. So, Um, tonight was a fun night for all of us to do that question season. Yeah, it did, it did um. So it's emotional. Um. Like I said, I love playing in Philly. Um, I knew this was you know, there's a chance it could be it, and you know, I don't think about the future, but I am aware of that because this city means a lot to me, This team means a lot to me. Wearing that jersey means

a lot to me. A couple of weeks ago, when I ran out of the tunnel, I didn't expect to play. I didn't, you know I was. I'm there to support the team and do what I can. And I got emotional thing because I knew that there's a chance that's coming to an end. But at the end of the day, I am very grateful for every opportunity to play here, to play in front of our fans, to wear that jersey. No matter what, no one can ever take that away from me. And this was a special one tonight. I

don't know what the future holes. I'm not going to worry about it. I'm just going to focus on now. Enjoy just being in Philadelphia, Enjoy the people, Enjoy wearing this Jersey because it's some of the most special moments in my life. You go out and setting the franchise record for passing yards in the game. What does that mean? I think the big thing is you just you know, I always look at records as who's involved. It's not just me. There's a lot of guys that made an

amazing amount of plays. The line gave me protection. You know, each game is a different entity. Some games you gotta rush for three touchdowns, you don't throw any Some games, you know, you don't get any passing yards, but somehow you win. And in some gays some days or some games you just have to light it up. And this was one of those games. Um. You know, I always think back to my teammates that people are there, the coaches that put us in the position talking on the sidelines.

So that's what it means to me, is the people that are involved, and obviously you know it's a team. Things. You've been around about Zack for a lot of years. He obviously wrote the record for tight ends, but what's your impression of what he accomplishes is amazing. I mean, you know, and especially to break the record that was held by someone that he looked up to as a kid, and now Zach gets to be a person that kids

look up Tom. There's a lot of kids out there probably put you know, middle school, elementary school, high school football. They're looking at Zach Ertz and like what he does. And he's impacting a lot of people by not only how he plays, but what he says after he breaks records. And that's the thing that's the most amazing to me. But I'm super proud of him. He's had an amazing career, he's had an amazing year, and you know, we still

have work to do. You get through your interception, It seemed like you run around to the team and had a word with them on the sideline. Is that accurate? And if so, what was your message? Yeah? I was just like, hey, let's just keep going. I think the most important thing sometimes when quarterbacks throw interceptions or something happens, everyone's like, is he all right? Because I mean it's

a it's a big play in the game. Um, I just you know, bad throw, bad decision, And I think the big thing is just reasert and hey, we're good. Let's just keep going, Let's keep playing, Let's forget about it. Have a short memory and h Like I said, when we're in that huddle, that's the eye of the storm. Let's keep it calm, Let's just focus on the play. We're in this together. That's the adversity we talk about,

and that's all it is. And the team that can overcome adversely, the best is usually the one that wins. Take a little moreout it talk about one more shot, had a playoff game. That's week. You guys know what's up front of yet just what's up mean for you guys? That means everything. Just to play another game as an Eagle means everything to us. But a lot of the different things, you know, we can't control a lot of

the scenarios. All we can control about is our preparation, what we do on a day in and day out basis at the Novercare facility, getting ready for the next game. So this week, more than anything, to stand in the moment, controlling what we can control, you know, enjoying the moment with one another. That's what it's about. Thank you all,

Very Christmas. All right. Nick Falls addressing the media after his record setting four hundred and seventy one yard performance that ended with the game winning drive as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Just a brilliant, brilliant performance. And Ike, we're actually gonna hear from head coach Doug Pearson is one on one interview with Mike wukin just a few moments. But first, the way that Nick sounded that press conference, talking about the memories and you know,

appreciating the opportunity to put the jersey on. You have to wonder if Carson Wentz Okay, we haven't talked about him to this point. If Carson Wentz is healthy, in my estimation, he's the quarterback next week, no question about it. What are your thoughts on that situation, because certainly a lot of fans are probably thinking at this point Foles has to be the guy. Well, I'll tell you what.

I'm with you on that. As a matter of fact, when when Carson is healthy, Justice Doug has said repeatedly I believe he will be the starting quarterback as he should be. But man, I'm sitting there and listening to the Nick. I'm sitting there watching him at that podium, and man, I love me some Nicky six. Man. I love Nick Foles, love watching him play, I love his

approach to the game. I love, how he loves his teammates, how he loves playing here, and because of the Cowboys winning earlier to day, Yeah, this will more than likely be Nick Foles's last time he plays as an Eagle in Lincoln Financial Field. Now, we don't know what the future holds, whether or not he'll be back. All that stuff will work itself out in the off season. But there is that possibility that he could have suited up for the last time as an Eagle in Lincoln Financial Field.

And I'm glad that that was somewhat in the back of his mind. I talked about talked about this on radio show earlier this week, not just for Nick, but for several guys. Right, they have pending free agencies coming up, and they aren't gonna let it consume their thinking throughout the week. But I remember my last year, the Super Bowl year here, Yeah, it's in the back of your mind that this is the last time that I could be walking out on the field to play in front

of these these awesome fans. And so for Nick to put on the performance that he did today, man, uh, he put he did what what Nick Foles typically does. Man, when there's a big moment there and he needs to rise to the occasion. He has no problem rising to the occasion. Franchise record for yards today, four touchdown passes today, I mean big play at the big play. If and I say if with air quotes, if it is his last time playing UH in Lincoln Financial Field as an Eagle,

what a way to go out well? And what an awesome way UH to go out? And I don't know what the futureize the immediate future meaning next week. I know Carson has to be chopping at the bid, but the organization is going to do what they think is in his best interests and the organization's best interest moving forward, because there is a bigger picture here, which is Carson

Wentz's health moving forward. I tell you what, It is a great problem to have right when you know you have two guys that, no matter who lines up under the center, you feel comfortable, confident that they can lead you to victory. I tell you I wouldn't want to be Doug right now, because well, I tell you what, how can you be wrong? You can't go wrong with whoever you go with. Carson's a guy, That's the thing. If Carson is health. This goes back to how Doug

has qualified it. If there's no chance for him to further injure himself. Okay, that's the biggest thing, because you're one hundred percent right about the big picture that Wentz is a franchise. If there's no further risk, you're part. He's the guy week seventeen. He's the one helped them get in position here, okay, bouncing back from the ac on LCL injuries. He's my guy in week seventeen in a win and possibly get in situation for this football team.

If he's not good, it's a easy decision. You go back to Nick for another week. I think it's pretty cut and dry, and that's standpoint. The thing I love about it is there is no controversy. Suter is during the job that I do throughout the week, we can create some of that stuff. This is sports radio goal for yes, but for this team and where it matters the most that these players, there is no controversy. This

coaching staff, there is no controversy. And the best part is that this team supports regardless whomever is behind center, and they feel they can win with whomever lines up under center. We know what Nick has done on the biggest of stages, and we know the talent that Carson Wentz possesses as the starting quarterback moving forward here. So we're in a great position. Whomever is the under center next week against the red Skins, I think we're in

a good position to win that football game. We're gonna need some things to sort of fall our way with some other teams, but I feel good about next week from the eagle standpoint, taking on the Red Skin ends, I think we're in a good position. Team is playing well, not just the last two games, Chris, think about it. They've won four out of the last five games, so they're going through their best stretch of the season right now.

We just had It's not too late against If you were to say a couple of weeks ago that you're gonna beat the Rams and the Texans, both league in the division, both in the number two seeds in the conference at the respective time, with so much to play for one game in Los Angeles, the other one here at the link now, most people said no chance the Things would pull it off, and they've done it in

a throwing fashion in back to back weeks. So Doug Peterson, when you talked about him for most of the show here with the brilliant play calling, the aggressive nature of his play calling today, especially when you contrasted and compare it to what Bill O'Brien did for the Texans. Doug Peterson spoke with Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Quick it's our weekly one on one interview post game. Let's send you all to that right now. Coach. First of all, congratulations,

we need so much druma in this game. You really don't. Sometimes we make this thing too hard um on ourselves quite frankly, with especially with the two score lead like we had. But you know, it's a um it's a resilient group, as we know, we've talked about that all season, and they find a way to win. I mean, it's a lot of individual efforts today, but but quite frankly,

this was a great team win. How important was it for you to get Darren Sprows out and well first involved in the offense and in space the way you got him today. Yeah, I think it's important. Each week, you know, we're still um giving him more and more kind of each week kind of we've been kind of easing him back and with the injury, just don't want to push him, But after these last couple of weeks, he can definitely take a little more on on us plate.

And you know, he can be he can be a matchup nightmare sometimes for for defenders and especially linebackers, and you know, it's it's it's sometimes it's a you know, a safety blanket for the quarterback to knowing where your running backs are going to be as far as the passing game goes. And then to make that long run he did at the end to to put us really into field goal range is something that is a credit

to him and just a great job. You knew that defense at front seven Clowney, those guys could erect the defense or wreck your offense. He got some early what made the difference late in the game though, where he wasn't nearly as effective. You know, I think I think, you know, when you get no situations that first of all,

Clowney and J. J. Watty, these are tremendous players. These guys are tremendous and and uh, you know JJ kind of kind of had his way a little bit earlier in this football game, and you know, really the whole game, I guess I should say, but you know, I think I think it comes to time where um, you know, they started moving him around too late in the game. So once you start moving him around, you know, he

pushed them through the middle of the pocket. I understand what they're trying to do is put a little pressure up the middle. And he's a long guy. He could probably bat some balls down. But um, a great job by our offensive line just handling him late in the game and allowing Nick to complete the balls. You talked about the individual performances and Nick himself during for four

hundred and seventy one yards on the day. How big was this performance and then coming back in and after that big hit, Yeah, you know, I mean Nick had a tremendous game. I think he said a record today for for Eagles as far as the passing goes and yardage and all that. And then happy for him. And you know, he'll be the first to tell you that he credits everybody else's it's you know, that's just that's just it, Nick, And he credits his receivers, is lying

his backs everybody else. And you know that's the thing about it is. You know, he's that point guard that just wants to distribute the ball. He wants to get the ball in his playmaker's hands and and let them let them do the work. And you know, it's just a it's a credit to him. He gets the ball out of his hand, and um, you know it's probably more again about about the team kind of hanging together and being resilient and and really making plays for Nick.

I mean, you know, you put a pass up and al Sean just elevates again late in the game, makes it comes down with a huge, huge catch. I mean, those are those are just things that are our playmakers are starting to do. They're often centered around Watson and of course Hopkins, but you're able to limit them somewhat. What was the plan with their quarterback? Well, Number one, things we try you try to keep him in the pocket, yes, and if you can't, then you have to try to

get him down in space. And there were times today where we didn't do a very good job of either one. Um, Now, credit credit him. He's a tremendous athlete. He broke out of some tackles today that you're just kind of wild moments, you know, And and he's gonna continue to grow and get better. But you know, if you can kind of isolate him and control him, keep him in the pocket. Um, you can get him on the ground and force him

to make some erratic throws. But he's a special player. Uh. And you know, Hopkins is another one of those receivers that can be very explosive. Um. You know, late in the game, they went after him a little bit and targeted him a little bit more. And you know, UM, that's what you do. You put the ball in your

playmaker's hands. I have to ask you about not necessarily the play calls anyone in particular, but when you have to go through the adversity that you have to go through, when you're getting those calls that go against you, what do you tell your guys? How do you keep your guys up in those situations. I just keep telling them that we just gotta continue to fight through it. I mean, that's all you can do. Um. You know, sometimes sometimes the call is gonna go against you. Sometimes it's gonna

go in your favor. We just gotta kind of block it out, block out the noise, and just just move on to the next play. It's like making a bad play. If you make a bad play, don't focus on it. Move forward. Let's get better the next time. Thanks coach. Thank Quick. The most candid that you will see Doug Pearson each and every week is that one on one

interview with Mike Quick. So we got some things on the playoff front situate, uh, you know, squared away during the breaks there, so Sell you would ask before about sett win tonight over the chief Sunday Night football, the orient that they all have their spot locked up, and then at that point it would be Eels must win, Vikings must lose. That that would be it right there. The Vikings play the Bears. The Bears still have the

possible first round buy to play for. So that's that's the key that you're looking for from that standpoint here. And then the Seahawks again they play tonight against the Chiefs. Next week it's against the Cardinals, and then the Vikings right there eight six and one. They got the win over Detroit today, Thanks Detroit for nothing. But they play the Bears next week there, so it's it's pretty pretty

cut and dry. Certainly, you hope that maybe the Chiefs that maybe Andy Reid could do do us a solid dif Doug solid you know, and you know, take care of Seahawks and now take care of the Seahawks and make things a little bit easier to give the Eagles another another avenue to be able to get into the postseason. And the Eagles can still finish as high as the fifth seas and the division's out at this point. Okay, Dallas is one of the NFC East, So be it.

You know, it would be great. This, this would be this would be the dream comes true if the Eagles could somehow get the fifth seed, which again it would be Seahawks have to lose their final two Vennesota loses next week, Eagles, Eagles win. Okay, that would give the Eagles the fifth seed. Cowboys pretty much locked in that fourth seat, four place five in the wild card round. Would you love to go to Jerry World there in a couple of weeks, Yeah, that third crack at the Cowboys. Yes, yes,

you know that. We would love to have another crack at those guys. Just get in though honestly we obviously just just want to get in. But I'm with you there the matchup, it's the holiday season. I'm dreaming, Okay, I'm with you. You know, gift the gift, you know, you could say this reminds me one of my favorite games to cover for my years here, and plus that's better than going to Chicago. Yeah that's on a Saturday

night in wintertime. No thanks whatsoever. But you know, one of my favorite games covering was the Jeff Garcia Christmas game that clinched the mcast for the Eagles that two thousand and six season. Okay, that came on the Christmas Day,

two days away from from the Christmas holiday. Nick Foles delivering a nice little gift here so to speak, here again give the Eagles a chance to keep hope alive going into the final week of the regular season, which for me, like you know, about a month ago, probably it was really after that Saints loss. Okay, at that point, I'm thinking, just make these games meaningful, give give the fans something to cheer for, give them something to believe in.

You know, you don't want to be playing out the string in weeks sixteen and seventeen and just totally changing the mood and the atmosphere of for everyone in the city. Because obviously it was so great going through the Super Bowl run a year ago and the memories that will always have from that, But you want, you want a little more. Okay, we've had, We've had the taste. We want to keep getting to the postseason. Play you get in and then you see what happens at the get in.

I just look back the last year, as great as or as good as Kansas City was in a regular season, Tennessee goes to Kansas City and wins in the first round. And so that's why I love the playoffs because it's single game elimination, doesn't matter what you did all season long. Typically the teams that are playing the best football late in the year are the most dangerous teams, especially in that first round. That's why you saw Atlanta knock off the Rams last year in the first round. I just

mentioned Tennessee knocking off the Chiefs. Stuff like that happens in that wild card round. And with the Eagles, if they were to win next week, they would have won five out of their last six games heading into the postseason if they were able to qualify. So that's sort of what you want to be doing. Just get in and let the chips fall where they may. And I guarantee you no one wants to wants to play the defending champs if they get into the playoffs. No, not

at all, whatsoever. So we can the Eagles have to win next week? Going going into today, no matter what happened today, there was there was believe or not a scenario where the Eagles lost today, there would still be a chance. No, the Eagles over. That's over. Eagles one took care of business, but they still have to win next week in Washington and it will be interesting to see how they respond after such a deflating loss yesterday

to Tennessee. Yeah. I've been in that position before, Chris down in Atlanta, and I would imagine there's gonna be a lot of packing this week down in DC. They'll be getting ready for the off season, right, I mean, Josh Johnson, he'll be happy. He hadn't played football in years. I mean, he's just happy to be back on a roster. So he may be a one man crew out there

next week. But everyone else, guys, when they know that they have nothing to play for and their season is over with, the last thing they want to do is get injured and to be stuck in the city that they play in for the whole off season rehabbing. So I would I would imagine Washington will start the game off giving the old good college try. But if the Eagles were to get up on them early. They're packing it in there. They're packing it in. They have no

reason to fight. They know that they're pretty much eliminated from playoff contention. I expect the Eagles to go down there and really play a dominant game. It's really gonna boil down to whether or not Chicago helps us out and takes care of the Minnesota Vikings. So I really do expect the Eagles to go down there and win next year. So right now, the game is together for one o'clock. The NFL Ken Flex games one week in advance for Week seventeen. The one game of note is Tennessee, Indianapolis.

That's probably the one that's gonna get flex to the primetime spot. Usually that's announced just before tonight's primetime game before the Chiefs and the Seahawks, so we'll wait to hear that. But there's a chance Heels could get flex to the late afternoon slot next week, so that all remains to be seen. So we started off the show with merlor Reese's call of Jake Elliot's game winning thirty

five yard field goal. Let's go through the rest of the best of Merrillcam thanks to Sports Radio ninety four w IP providing the footage from the booth here with Melor Reiese and Mike Quick. This is fourth down and about two fools takes it. He's back, he fires out. He's got Sproke turning twenty five, twenty fifteen. Ten cocks back at the five. He's tuk him. How sweet is that? Totally seven yards? How sweet is that? Darren Spros catch it. There's an opportunity for the linebacker to make a play.

Spros is able to get by him, get down the sideline, and once he gets down the sideline out in space, you're not going to get him on the ground. He gets it into the end zone for the touchdown. Holes takes the snap, he's back, he looks, he fires complete touchdown. Zack hurts a lot of work, but they got it done. They did at the hard one. They did at the hard one. You know. They line up a bunch on the left side and zach Ertz runs a little Texas route.

He angles to the outside, comes back in very similar to the route that they tried to get into. Darren sprows and he gets a touchdown with five to fifty seven remaining here in the third quarter, and this will be a forty six yard attempt, make it forty seven as the holder Cameron Johnston backs up one more yard forty seven yard attempt to make it sixteen apiece. Battle spotted kick is away and the kick is god. We're tired at sixteen total. A half minutes to go in

the third quarter, sixteen sixteen first and ten. Eagles ball at their own seventeen. Sprowls positions on the left of falls full straight back. He looks, steps up, starts to run. He is going deep. He is firing, and it is cut. It is Agalog at the twenty fifteen ten five touchdown. Now Footagalog. That's what he's been asking for all afternoons. I saw him talking to Mike Grove. Because Nelson knows that he can outrun this defense. He blows the pop off with his defense. Nick Foles chops in a dime

to Nelson, Agalog, Watson back again. Here comes the rush. He's head. Football is loose. It's a free ball. The Eagles have it and it is picked up by Fletcher Cox, who runs out of and the Eagles get their turnover. Hurts back. He is floating it and it's complete. The Arts ERTs at the ten, Hurts at the fall, Hurts to the end zone. I've got anna touchdown. PRIs tack Hurts. This is that's the best piece of running I've ever

seen by Zach Hurts. He catches a little flat route, he gets up Phil he avoided the linebacker and then he avotched the safety wall. That's what he wan Watson and the garden Blna was left. Watson drops. Watson looks he's grabbed. They've gone am back at the forty two and it's train Foster. Watson's back. Watson steps up, he's starting to run. He's tackled and he's down at the forty four yard line by Chris Long. Chris Long did it again. You know he had the strip sack earlier

in the game. Hold your breath spotted up. It is. It's good. The Eagles win. What an outstanding football game. Now, that's a fun game that that's outstanding. The Eagles on eleven plays, mister rees, they go seventy two yards. Jake Elliott tapped it off with the thirty five yard bomb right through the uprights. Last week's game on say Los Angeles. This one was strictly out of Hollywood, thanks again to Sports Radio ninety four WP and how many more people

can we fit in the booth there? That was a party. That was a party by the end of that Merrilcam segment right there. So if you miss Amy, we will have it for you later on on Philadelphias dot com and the app. So as the twenty eighteen calendar year starts to come to a close, you know you can follow this under things that we didn't think we would see.

How about the New England Patriots thanking Foles and you go back to obviously Foles and his MVP performance in the Super Bowl, you would be like, that's never gonna take place. But by virtue of Foles's performance and the Eagles winning today, the Patriots they clinch the AFC East and they are now in the number two spot in the AFC, bumping back the Texans there because they beat the Texans earlier year, so they own the time breaker.

So in fact, the picture that went with the tweet with none other than Tom Brady hugging Nick Foles, which that you know didn't happen at the Super Bowl. Yeah, that was the preseason game exact, Yes, yes, we'll just leave it right there. So what we're gonna do now is we're gonna take a quick commercial break. We have some film breakdown segments courtesy of Fran Duffy and Greg Cosell. And we also have the nominees for the Toyota Player of the Game Awards, and I allowed debating for that

one there. So if you're following us on Facebook or Twitter, you need to come on over to Philadelphia Eels dot com or the app to watch the rest of the show. We'll give you a few minutes to get situated as we take our first break. The life of a Philly sports fan is a wild ride. Some years we triumph, some years we trust would never change. This year after year is how we get to the game, shoulder to shoulder with our fellow fans on scepter. Get your ride

started at ICEPTA Philly dot Com. Well, I'm trying to gain, but it feels like another Yeah, I'm trying to say strong. Sometimes I realize and the further ride the mold that I know and I want to go home. When you and your money are treated with respect, you prosper at

font de Bank. Respect adds up hit the Beach this spring with me Dave SPINNERO Eagles alumni and current players travel to now LARAMR Punta Kana in the beautiful Dominican Republic for a getaway full of special activities and VIP events. Packages include round trip, NonStop air, resort transfers, unlimited luxury hotel accommodations, plus all meals and drinks. Go to Apple Vacations dot com Slash Eagles to book your trip today. Sorry, but this new Duncan latte is too delicious to take

away from my mouth. How's your day going though? New handcrafted medium cappuccinos and lantes for two dollars from two to six pm at Santander Bank. We want you to prosper. That's why we treat you and your money with respect. Learn more about how respect adds up at Santondair by visiting Santandair Bank dot com. McDonald's proud partner of the Philadelphia Eagles. All right, so welcome back to the show.

We've showed you some of the highlights. We've heard from all the players and coaches who are key in bringing the Eagles the thirty two the thirty victory. So why don't we do like a little film breakdown. We're gonna send it over to the RICO whiteboard for the Rico Review, where fran Duffy and NFL Film Senior producer Great Ks are standing by to give us the film breakdown of Nelson Agilore's eighty three yard touchdown reception. So the Eagles get the ball back now tied at sixteen, and we're

gonna see this big play. It's actually the biggest pass play greg since twenty ten for this team. Eighty fil yards from Nick Foles. Nelson Agilore. Breakdown what we see here and what makes this play happen for Nelson. It's really interesting because what the Eagles are doing here, they line up with alshon Jeffrey as the x the x ISO the single receiver to the boundary, which is his

predominant position. But what's interesting about this is how the Texans react to that on this given play is they're going to go with a dedicated double on Jeffrey with the corner, obviously, but this safety here is doubling Jeffrey, a hard dedicated double. So now what does that do? They have trips to the field, They've got Earth's inside and they've got Nelson Agel. All right here, those are

the key people. So but if you see now, because of this safety dedicating the double onto Jeffrey, you get basically man to man zero man. There's no help over the top of any of these players, so that whole area is wide open. So now what we'll do is we can clear this, Fran and we can run the play and keep your eye on all this and if we freeze it as we see right about here. So what happens there's the double clear, here's arts with Justin

Reid the safety running with him. So what does that do with Aglar He's now one on one running the deep post against Turan Matthew and there's no help. So that's where Nick Foles is looking, and he has to move and navigate the pocket. He does it beautifully, but he's waiting for that to all happen because he knows he has the one on one with the deep post

to Agilar versus Matthew. So let's now run this. This is a great throw, by the way, because this is a long distance throw and he drops it right in the bucket. Beautifully throw the ball, but very interesting how the Texans would play that. Yeah, anytime you were running a deep post route down the middle of the fields from an inside receiver, you want that to go right between the pipes, and went right between the house, no question. And if that post safety is removed as he was

with the double, then there's no one there. Yeah, big play there from Nick Foles and Nelson agil sends the Eagles ahead now twenty three to sixteen. All right, you can check out the entire all twenty two review tomorrow morning right here on philadelphias dot com and the Eels App and Ike were talking about that play earlier in the show before seeing that film breakdown. You said, correctly, he had zach and on the play so on the corner route would have be able to hit him on that.

But the factor, Marris, if you're gonna go big, go bigger, go home, And you know Nelson Aglore stepping up in the biggest because it's not just the touch that Nick put on the ball, but but it was a phenomenal job by Agilore catching the ball over his shoulders there and then be able to finish off Tyron Matthew Obviously the one on one coverage at that point, he was in the dust so Agilare was just taking some time off the clock. Yeah, man, it was great to see that.

Remind me of a play he made last year, right was it. I can't remember what San Francisco or Denver might have been that Nelson made the big play, or even Arizona when he fell into game zone. But the fact that Carson, the fact that Nick was willing to give him an opportunity to make a play on the ball. Like you said, it's one thing to put the ball up there, putting nice touch on it. It's not as easy it may look for a wide receiver to track that deep ball. Seeing plea the wide receivers in this

league that can't track a deep ball. The best in the game, in my opinion, has been to Sean Jackson over the last decade of tracking deep balls, and that play right there reminded me a lot of what to Shane looked like running down the field catching those deep passes. So it was great to see that back in the game, back into the offensive repertoire. It really forces these defenses to respect you going deep. The formation. It was a great formation there. Like I said, you had zach Ertz

on going across. If Nick wanted to go there. He certainly could have gone there, probably would have completed the ball. But the thing that we all love about Nick, he's more than willing to take chances down the field and give his players an opportunity to make plays. That's what he did there, gave Nelson an opportunity to make a play. I just love the fact that the play call from

the standpoint of you spread out the Texans defense. Okay, very under were talking about the Eagle secondary being underman. The Texans had a ton of injuries coming in this game in the secondary and lost corners and secondary members throughout the course of the contest today. So you spread out that Texans defense and you say, all right, they're gonna double Al Shan fired, he's out of the equation. You've got three one on one matchups across the board. Take a shot, take a shot, and go with it

from there. So kudos to Nick and Al Shot for delivering the big play that gave the Eagles the lead in the second half, and of course they went on to win thirty two to thirty. Now the question is Nick Voles, Nelson agilor are they in the running for the Toyota Player of the Week nomination. We're going to tell you right after this final break here on the postgame show presented by Rico, this new handcrafted Tunkan espresso

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I'm trying to gain, but it feels like another lie. Yeah, I'm trying to stay strong sometimes realize and further rode the mode. I go home when you and your money are treated with respect, your prosper and at fontand bank respect adds up. The life of a Philly sports fan is a wild ride. Some years we triumph, some years we trust would never change. This year after year is how we get to the game, shoulder to shoulder with our fellow fans on SEPTA. Get your right started at

ictaphilly dot com. This season, the Eagles High School Football Showdown, presented by Rothman Orthopedics at Jefferson Health, celebrated local high school football coaches and their teams. Visit Philadelphia Eagles dot com slash Showdown to check out the weekly results and videos and to find out which coach will be selected as the Coach of the Year. Now is your chance

to vote for the Toyota Player of the Week. Go to Philadelphia Eagles dot com slash Toyota Player of the Week to cash your vote and get a chance at a brand new Toyota. So where do we begin? You

gotta start with number nine, Nikki six himself. Look at the numbers, franchise single game record four hundred and seventy one passing four touchdowns over seventy percent completion percentage, A gutsy effort on the final drive, Eagles down thirty to twenty nine, taking the shot in the end zone had to come out for one play, Nate suf How about Nates off of throwing the ball in is one rep

out there in the field. But nonetheless, though Foles coming back in getting key third down conversions to Alston Jeffrey on that drive to zach Ertz and setting Jake Elliott up to get the game winning thirty five yard field goal. Yeah, I mean, we we've talked a lot about Nick today and rightfully so, wow last two weeks, Nick Foles man just another outstanding performance to set the franchise record for passing yards in the game to go along with four touchdowns.

And not only that, just the key clutch throws late in the game that Nick Foles was able to make big throw after big throw time at the time, just another outstanding job from Nick. Look, there's no run game today, Texas run defense outstanding. This was on Nick Foles's shoulders and he delivered in a big way. So the recipient of a lot of those passes as our second nominee

tight end, zach Ertz. And you know, just from setting the record for most receptions by a tight end in NFL history, that alone would have warranted consideration for it. But twelve catches on sixteen targets over one hundred yards, receiving two touchdowns, including a big catch and run. And he also had a huge twenty yard reception on a third down on the final drive which really set them up in field goal range. Yeah, another great job from

zach Ertz. You know, if you want to make sure that you appreciate with zach Ertz is doing this year and week the week. Sometimes you see his numbers and we can sort of take it for granted because he seems to put up these type of big numbers every week. But just having a historical season, really an all pro season, in my opinion, best tight end in football, best tight end in football. You talked about the big catch right there to set up the field goal. Another outstanding game,

zach Ertz. So last, but not least, the man who put the ball through the uprights to win the game. Jake Elliott bouncing back from missing an extra point earlier in the contest, but hit two long field goals. You know, the last one, I should say it was a long one thirty five yards. But with this season on the line, this was you make it. We've got hope for this week and we're all celebrating, enjoying a positive week here in Philadelphia with the holiday season. He misses that one. Lord,

we don't need to go there. Nonetheless, he made it. He is a Toyota Player of the Week nominee. Yeah, and it's through his two years of being here. He certainly has had some mishaps time to time. From time to time, but I can't think of a moment where the game was on the line, or he needed to come up with a big field goal to tie a game or what have you that he didn't come through. This kid has been able to come through for us

ice water in his veins. We talk about the Super Bowl heroes Nick Foles, Brandon Graham, the Strip Sack of course, but man zach Ertz, But we don't talk about Jake Elliott and that big field goal he hit at the Brandon Graham for stet up fumble on Tom Brady to put us up by eight points. Jake Elliott once again showing when you're needing the most, he comes through force. All right, So those are your three nominees for the Toyota Player of the Week award. Again, you enter, you

have a chance of with a brand new car. So you know, if you're slacking on getting those gifts, gifts, you know, like myself right here, I was thinking maybe I'll be able to get out to the malls tonight. But where everything has taken place, it may not happen. So you know, we'll if they'll come through in the clutch one way or another. So but nonetheless, tomorrow two

pm you are on the air Christmas Eve. Ye okay, Marks and Reese can only imagine we'll start to show off with our customary victory chant as we do when the Eagles win. And got another exciting week, meaningful Eagles football to talk about. And I'm sure the fans will be pumped up this week getting ready for that risk

in his game next week. I mean, we haven't been in this position of scoreboard watch in some time, and so the funny thing is they'll probably be less talk about the Eagles chances of beating the Ridskins next week and more talk about Chicago taking care of the vikings for us next week. So uh, looking forward to a fun week man, another week of to talk about our beloved birds. You know it's funny you look at the Andy Reid tree Okay, so Andy Reid, we could use

some help tonight against the Seahawks. Okay, chief Seahawks again, Prime time Saturday Football, NBC Mattege. Okay, it was Chicago, you know, coach with Doug in Kansas City. Help him, help him, Help help you brother out out, help us get into the tournament. Okay, not asking for much, Okay, just get us in there. And you know, hey, Doug, Doug was a great job as oc in Kansas City, comes to Philadelphia, paves away from Mattenegge to get the ocean job in Kansas City. He has a job in Chicago.

So you know, you gotta take care of those who helped you along the way. There you go, simple as that. So I Marry Christmas. Happy Holidays to you and your family. It's been it's been a great ride. So and it continues for another week here and we thank each and every one of you out there again. Happy Holidays to everyone out there. This will be a very fun Eagles week. Indeed, Doug Pearson addresses the media at noon on Monday, we

will carry it for you live. So until then, for Ike Reece and all of us here at the Philadelphia Eagles, I'm Chris McPherson, you've been watching the post game show presented by Rico. Happy holidays, We will see you tomorrow.