Everyone is going to notice Saquon Barkley's impressive three-touchdown debut or A.J. Brown's 100-yard performance featuring a huge catch-and-run touchdown, but there were key moments in Friday night's win over the Green Bay Packers that Head Coach Nick Sirianni wanted to make sure got some of the limelight. Because as he believes, "Everybody's role is not the same, but everybody's role is important. It takes every one of us."
1. Eagles contain All-Pro returner at end of game
Situation: With 27 seconds left in the game, Braden Mann kicks off with the Eagles holding a 34-29 lead. Green Bay has no timeouts and its two-time All-Pro return specialist Keisean Nixon tries to aid the offense by taking the ball out 8 yards deep from the end zone. The Eagles corral Nixon at the 16-yard line and forced the Packers to have to go 84 yards with no timeouts in order to win the game.
Coach's Role Call: "I think the kickoff at the end of the game was huge. (Keisean) Nixon jumped up to take the ball because he knew he'd give them a chance to return it. Will Shipley beat his guy (safety Zayne Anderson) down there. Oren Burks put a dent in the coverage and then you see Nolan Smith kind of fold back and make that tackle on a really dangerous returner in a critical moment in the game. Sometimes that goes unnoticed, but I thought it was a really important play.
"And Braden (Mann), his punts and his kickoffs, the last one that Nixon took back was 8 yards deep. That's part of the reason those guys were able to get down there and make a play. That was huge. Game on the line. Those guys were waiting for him to take it out that deep because Nixon's a really good player. They were there, ready for him."
2. Red zone defense gets critical stop in fourth quarter
Situation: There is 8:01 left in the game. It's third-and-goal. Packers trail 31-26, but have the ball at the Eagles' 8-yard line. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo beats right guard Sean Rhyan inside to rush quarterback Jordan Love's pass in the back of the end zone intended for wide receiver Romeo Doubs. The ball sailed just a little too high and was incomplete, forcing the Packers to settle for the field goal.
Coach's Role Call: "We call these four-point plays. I don't exactly how many snaps Moro Ojomo played, but that pass rush was awesome. They're running a concept and Love had to get rid of the ball and he forced a high throw. That was a big-time play. That's a huge play in the game. It's four points.
"It's plays like that from guys who are really attacking their role. 'Hey, I might only have eight plays, nine plays, 10 plays, but I'm going to go get it when I have an opportunity to."
3. Grant Calcaterra and the use of 12 personnel
Situation: It's the second play of the fourth quarter. Eagles face second-and-10 after linebacker Edgerrin Cooper knocked the ball down on the previous play. Eagles are ahead by five, 31-26. Quarterback Jalen Hurts drops back and finds a wide-open Grant Calcaterra for the first down.
Coach's Role Call: "Grant Calcaterra had a couple of really nice plays. He had a catch on a sit route over the ball and then turned upfield and really played with toughness when he lowered his shoulder to get that first down on second-and-10. Second-and-10 is never comfortable to be in. He got us the first there. He also had one block on the nickel (Nixon, see video below) who was kind of knifing and Saquon (Barkley) was able to get through on an 8-yard gain."
"With Grant, you've seen the playmaking ability every day and the consistency and the reliability every day. That's not necessarily playmaking with a ball in your hands. He doesn't get a ton of opportunities, but when he does, does he take advantage? Yeah, and he can do the little dirty work stuff that he needs to do to give us confidence."
