As the Philadelphia Eagles prepared for Sunday’s showdown with Keystone State rival Pittsburgh, the attention from the outside media was on everything but football.
Some cryptic comments by star wide receiver A.J. Brown raised some eyebrows. Teammate Brandon Graham then fueled widespread speculation about Brown’s relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts during his weekly sports radio hit on 94WIP.
The story was suddenly about Brown vs. Hurts, and whether Philly’s slumping passing game could be fixed during a season dominated by MVP candidate Saquon Barkley. That narrative lasted exactly one week, though, and fans should credit head coach Nick Sirianni for that.
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Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently detailed Sirianni’s message to his players during what he called a “bumpy week.” Here was some of Breer’s reporting following Philly’s 27-13 win over the Steelers:
Instead of listening, Sirianni focused inward. He showed the players a reel of celebrations Wednesday. The defense mobbing Chauncey Gardner-Johnson after an interception. Saquon Barkley dancing with Grant Calcaterra after the tight end scored. Barkley and Mekhi Becton strumming air guitars. Brown and DeVonta Smith coming up with a Dwayne Wade–LeBron James impression. And, yes, Brown and Jalen Hurts, together, doing their best Kid ’n Play.
From there, the week was all about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sirianni knew his players got the picture.
Sirianni probably doesn’t get enough credit for how he’s kept Philly’s ship not only afloat, but steaming straight ahead in 2024. The tone of his players completely changed during their media availabilities on the Wednesday before the Pittsburgh game, with Brown and Hurts individually squashing any drama before teaming up for eight completions, 110 yards and a touchdown against the overmatched Steelers on Sunday.
Said team captain Jordan Mailata, via Breer: “(Coach) let us address it. Once it was done, he made sure to move on and keep the Steelers the main thing. He didn’t let it linger. We kept pushing on. And that was Coach’s message.”
Score one for Sirianni, as the focus is squarely back on football entering a Week 16 showdown with NFC East rival Washington.
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