That familiar fire was back on the Eagles sideline on Sunday. We have all seen the scenes before. Coach Nick Sirianni was locked in. His face? It was turning a shade of red usually reserved for a late-game replay challenge. However, this particular scene featured a spirited debate with the men in stripes. And the home crowd buzzed like a beehive.
It all began with a controversial missed field goal. An erroneous whistle blew during Jake Elliott’s 58-yard attempt, a kick that ultimately doinked off the upright. FOX rules expert Dean Blandino stated the Eagles should have gotten a retry. Sirianni fought passionately for that very chance. And his heated discussion with the officials became a major subplot in a dominant 38-20 win.
Sirianni’s Sideline Silence
The coach was in no mood to rehash the drama. When asked about the source of the confusion, Sirianni was tight-lipped. He deflected with a practiced calm.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously there's a lot of things that happen within a game,” Sirianni said. “I'm glad you guys don't ask me every week, ‘Hey, why [did] you get upset with the official here or why were you happy with him here?’ Because that'd be the whole press conference.” He effectively shut down the line of questioning, choosing to protect the team's internal affairs.
"I think that we probably just keep that between myself and the officials. Again, I just think that's the right way of doing business in the NFL. They got a hard job, we got a hard job... but there was obviously something that we were communicating about," Sirianni added. This strategic retreat is becoming a pattern for the successful coach.
His press conferences have transformed into masterclasses in saying very little. However, his players did all the talking on the field.
Eagles Unleash a Ground Assault
The answer came in the form of a relentless running game. The Eagles’ offense scored a season-high 276 rushing yards. Saquon Barkley broke free for a 65-yard touchdown on the game’s very second play. The Eagles' running back looked unstoppable, rushing for a total of 150 yards. Unfortunately, he then had to be sidelined for a groin injury. But the ground game only got better.
Tank Bigsby powered his way to 104 yards. And this dominant ground attack controlled the clock and the game's tempo. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts looked nearly flawless.
Hurts threw four touchdowns. The defense also joined the party. They sacked Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart five times. And this collective effort is showcasing a team finally hitting its stride. However, small issues linger despite the blowout win.
Kicker Jake Elliott has now missed a field goal in two consecutive games. That's a clear red flag. His season stats show a slight dip in long-range reliability. The Eagles will need him to be automatic as the season tightens.
Read more: Saquon Barkley breaks silence on ‘revenge mindset’ vs. Giants after dominant win
Sirianni is balancing the plates of a Super Bowl contender. He must manage emotions, officiate disputes, and handle explosive egos. He is the team’s connector, as the owner noted. Sometimes that means a fiery confrontation. Other times it means quiet deflection. And it is all part of the job description in Philadelphia.