An emotional Mekhi Becton stood on the sidelines of Lincoln Financial Field after clinching his first ever division title and trip to the postseason after the Eagles' Week 17 win over the Cowboys.
The No. 11 overall pick of the Jets in 2020, Becton did not have a winning season before coming to Philadelphia in April.
"It meant a lot. Just going through the trials and tribulations that I had to go through in my life and my career. I overcame a lot of things that a lot of people don't know about, but they think they know about. I overcame that and it was pretty dope just to overcome that," Becton said about that moment of winning the NFC East.
"It (the emotions) lasted all the way into the locker room, I hugged a few guys, then I wiped my tears and was like, 'It is what it is, I want something bigger.'"
That something bigger is a Super Bowl for Becton and the Eagles. The former Louisville Cardinal had to go way back to recall his last memorable postseason experience.
"This might sound crazy, but I just try to take it back to high school. That was the last time I've been in a situation where I had to play for something meaningful and play for a championship," Becton said. "I just take it back to that and just try not to make things bigger than what it is. Once you start doing that, that's when everything just falls apart."
Outside of the rookies, Becton is not the only Eagle who will be playing in his first playoff game on Sunday.
Wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who the Eagles traded for just before the Eagles flew to Brazil to face the Packers, is playing in his first postseason game in Year 3.
"It's exciting. I can't wait for the opportunity. We're chasing something really big here, so it's pretty cool just to be a part of something like this. I'm really excited," Dotson said.
The former first-round pick heads into the Wild Card Round coming off of his best game as an Eagle. Dotson had seven catches for 94 yards against the Giants in Week 18 but will enter new territory on Sunday.
"Just leaning on the guys in the locker room. There's a lot of guys who have been here before," Dotson said. "Just trying to make the plays that are necessary to win the game. It really comes down to just what we've been doing all year. That's playing our brand of football, staying to our standard, and sticking to our details. We do that, we pretty much feel as though we can beat anyone."
Becton's teammate in New York, Bryce Huff, will make his playoff debut in his fifth season in the league after signing with Philadelphia in free agency.
"It feels great, just knowing that we have the opportunity to do something special. I'm looking forward to it," Huff said. "Being on a losing team the last few years was not a good feeling. I feel like the fact that I'm on this team with all these great players and coaches, I just know I can't take it for granted. I'm going to do whatever I can to help us win."
Rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean, who's had a standout season, played just six snaps in the Week 1 meeting with the Packers as he was coming back from an offseason injury and adjusting to the new defense.
The 21-year-old has remained poised all year, knows what's at stake and says he "likes those big games."
"The veterans have been telling us how a lot of teams aren't playing right now. A lot of teams are at home, and we get to continue to play football," DeJean said.
"Just trying to take advantage of that and keep trying to get better. Don't make it too big on yourself and just keep preparing throughout the week like we have been all season."
Darius "Big Play" Slay, who will play in his sixth playoff game as an Eagle, has been one of those leaders, who has helped DeJean and first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell throughout the season.
Mitchell has started in every game this season outside of Week 18, where the Eagles rested many of their starters.
"We already asked some questions and stuff like that, but he (Slay) just says it's just a regular game. But it's win or go home, so our technique and everything else just has to be right," Mitchell said.
The rookie cornerback has impressed Slay and the veteran wants to see more.
"Q's been doing his thing. He's one of the best young guys coming into this league. Obviously, you see he was the first corner off the board for a reason. He's got to continue to keep going. We got a lot of games left, that's the hope, so have to go out here and execute," Slay said.
The Eagles know the course of action has to be preparing as they have the last 18 weeks.
"For me, I don't think it's too hard. That's kind of how I treat every week, just treat it the same. You have to continue to prepare just as you would each and every week throughout the season," DeJean said when asked if it's easy or hard to treat Sunday like any other game.
"Obviously, the stakes are higher. There's a little more of a consequence if you lose. But we just have to continue to prepare – that's been a point of emphasis, just the way we have this whole season."
– Written by Liam Wichser
