So what? Now what? That’s the mindset head coach Nick Sirianni adopted for his Eagles to rebound not only from a disappointing loss the week before but also to overcome multiple miscues in a 15-12 win at New Orleans on Sunday.
“That’s a hard place to play and a hard place to win,” said Sirianni, whose team outgained the league’s No. 1 offense, 460-219, but committed two turnovers and failed to convert two of three fourth-down attempts. “To come in here and get a win like that is special and we’ll remember this. That brings a team closer together.”
Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert brought them closer together in a big way during the fourth quarter. Without their two top wide receivers and two starters on their offensive line, the Eagles leaned on those players to go on the road and beat the NFL’s hottest team.
Barkley busted through the middle of the line for a 65-yard touchdown to give Philadelphia a 7-3 lead early in the final period. Then, after New Orleans carved out consecutive scoring drives to build a 12-7 advantage, including the Saints’ first touchdown, Goedert took over.
With just over a minute remaining, the tight end took a shallow crossing route and exploded down the left sideline for 61 yards. One play later, Barkley scored on a 4-yard run followed by a two-point conversion to push Philadelphia back on top before Reed Blankenship’s interception sealed the game.
“We just kept trusting the process and kept working,” said Barkley, who averaged 8.6 yards per attempt (17 carries for 147 yards), along with the two touchdowns. “We understand that when things like that (the loss to the Falcons) happen, everyone thinks the world is ending, but it really doesn’t matter what the outside world thinks. It matters what happens in that locker room. And you see it today; we just kept trusting each other and kept having each other’s back. And that’s what team football is about. And Coach always says, ‘You can’t be great without the greatness others.’”
Goedert was great. He posted career highs in both receptions (10) and receiving yards (170). Afterward, the tight end said getting more touches was a nice feeling, but he wants to help the Eagles win however he can.
“I love blocking, too,” he said. “And so whatever I can do to help the team win, I will, and anytime my number gets called, I’m going to try to make the biggest plays I can.”
Just when the Eagles (2-1) were starting to put last year’s disappointing finish behind them, they now return to Tampa Bay, site of the Wild Card playoff loss that ended their season in 2023. Then, Philadelphia gets a Week 5 bye.