Philly Leader

In the aftermath of Friday night's win over the Green Bay Packers, much of the attention has been on Saquon Barkley's three-touchdown debut and A.J. Brown's 100-yard performance. However, Head Coach Nick Sirianni emphasized other crucial moments that played a significant role in securing the victory.

"Everybody's role is not the same, but everybody's role is important. It takes every one of us," Sirianni stated.

1. Eagles contain All-Pro returner at end of game

With 27 seconds left and holding a 34-29 lead, Braden Mann kicked off for the Eagles. Green Bay had no timeouts, and its two-time All-Pro return specialist Keisean Nixon attempted to make a play by taking the ball out from 8 yards deep in the end zone. The Eagles managed to stop Nixon at the 16-yard line, forcing the Packers to go 84 yards with no timeouts to win.

Sirianni remarked, "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... Those guys were waiting for him to take it out that deep because Nixon's a really good player."

2. Red zone defense gets critical stop in fourth quarter

With 8:01 left in the game and facing third-and-goal from the Eagles' 8-yard line, defensive tackle Moro Ojomo pressured quarterback Jordan Love into an incomplete pass intended for wide receiver Romeo Doubs. This forced Green Bay to settle for a field goal.

"We call these four-point plays... That pass rush was awesome... It's plays like that from guys who are really attacking their role," said Sirianni.

3. Grant Calcaterra and the use of 12 personnel

Early in the fourth quarter, facing second-and-10 after linebacker Edgerrin Cooper knocked down a previous pass, Jalen Hurts found Grant Calcaterra for a first down. Calcaterra also contributed significantly with his blocking.

Sirianni noted, "Grant Calcaterra had a couple of really nice plays... He doesn't get a ton of opportunities, but when he does, does he take advantage? Yeah..."

These key moments highlighted by Coach Sirianni underscore contributions beyond headline performances that were pivotal in securing Friday night’s victory.

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