After the Eagles won their season opener last season over the Falcons, they lost five of the next six games.
The Eagles were 2-5 on Halloween, when they played at Detroit. They trounced the Lions, 44-6, and were on their way to a wild card spot.
Still, that slow start. It’s unbecoming for a team with an NFC East title on its to-do list.
- “As far as going into slow starts … whether it’s maybe who you’re playing, maybe your team is not ready to win yet,” said coach Nick Sirianni, whose team opens at Detroit on Sunday.
- “I think there have been times where I’ve felt like on teams I’ve been on in the past, we weren’t ready to win yet, and what goes into that?
- “Well, the culture had to be set – and I’m speaking of past places I’ve been at. The culture had to be set. The guys had to keep developing and getting ready.
- “A lot of different things go into that. Are the players ready? Then also, does everyone know the expectations of what’s going on?
- “That’s what happens sometimes when you don’t start fast. We feel like we’re ready to go. We feel like we’re getting closer to ready to go every single day with what we’re doing and with how we’re preparing, and that we’ll be ready for Detroit.”
HURTS ‘SMOOTH’
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts remains the big enigma going into the season. Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was asked the biggest difference between Hurts now and Week One last season.
- “I think it’s just the confidence and the smoothness of everything he’s doing,” Steichen said. “Like I said, it’s Year Two in the system.
- “I think with anything, you develop some confidence being in Year Two in that same system.
- “So, you can see by the way he’s playing, the way he’s going through his reads, all those things we’ve said before. It’ll be exciting to see on Sunday. I’m looking forward to it.”
BEASTS OF EAST?
The Eagles have become the favorites to win the NFC East, overtaking the defending division champion Cowboys, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
The Eagles moved from +150 to +130 last weekend. Dallas is +135.
When Caesars’ lines opened in February, the Cowboys were favorites at -150 while the Eagles were +330.
‘IT’S SO PHILADELPHIA’
Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick talked about being an underdog and making his mark in the NFL.
- “Never give up. It’s so Philadelphia when you think about it, right?” the Camden, N.J., native said.
- “Underdog story, being overlooked, just having grit, continuing to push through. All the ups and downs. Earlier, I had way more downs than I did ups.
- “Trying to keep my mental confidence, reminding myself that I was still that guy, that I’m still a great player even if it wasn’t showing, even if people were saying otherwise.
- “Just grinding every day. Keeping your head down, grinding, continue to push, and just waiting for things to get better. Waiting to come out on top on the other side.”
Reddick also talked about the most difficult positions on defense.
“Corner[back] is a tough job especially with a lot of the wide receivers in the league today,” Reddick said.
“But just to be asked to read run or pass every play. You have to get down there and get physical every play. Inside linebacker is *the*, if not one of the toughest jobs, in the NFL.”
A.J. BROWN ‘AWESOME’
Sirianni was asked about how wide receiver A.J. Brown is fitting in with the Eagles’ culture.
- “He’s awesome. He fits in great,” Sirianni said.
- “Obviously, a guy comes in, and the amount of plays he’s made in this league, has automatic respect of everybody. The way he interacts with his teammates, the way he works on the practice field, he fits great into our culture.
- “We want to get better every day at practice. We want to compete. We want to connect with our guys.
- “And he speaks to all those things. I love having him on the team for his play-making ability, and I love having him on the team for the person and the teammate that he is.”
SHADY TO FOX
Former Eagles All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy will co-host a new studio show at FS1.
McCoy’s show will be called “Speak” and he will be joined by former Eagles teammate Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor.
“Shady” played six seasons in Philly (2009-14) and played 12 seasons overall. He is the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher with 6,792 yards. Side note: Hurts is the 33rd leading career rusher with 1,138 yards.
QUOTABLE
Lions coach Dan Campbell, talking to Detroit media this week about Sunday’s game against the Eagles, who ran the ball down Detroit’s throat last year in a 44-6 victory:
- “I would fully expect them to come in and see if we’ve fixed our problems … If I’m them, I’m doing the same thing.”
