There is a significantly different atmosphere in the Philadelphia Eagles locker room than this time last season. Confidence among the players is high heading into the postseasonsomething that was missing when Philadelphia limped into the playoffs a year ago.
Winning plays an integral role. The Eagles have won 12 of 13 games heading into the playoffs, compared to losing five of six last year, certainly a different path to a Super Bowl trip.
“Momentum is definitely on our side this year,” said Lane Johnson, the longest-tenured player on the Eagles’ offense. “I feel like we’re coming together more than probably last year when the team was a little bit confused. I feel like the boys are confident. We are loose, but we are [focused] about what got us here and that’s practicing hard and how we do things every day and all those things remain.”
How much have attitudes changed in one year? Nick Sirianni had the Eagles in a padded practice on Wednesday heading into the postseason, an unorthodox workout for many teams this time of year. Still, it was one the players embraced.
“Our confidence comes from the work we’ve done in practice,” Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean said. “You see Sirianni, he had us in padded practice for the playoffs and everyone embraced it. That’s our confidence level.”
The Eagles were a different team last year, and not in a good way. The locker room wasn’t exactly divided, but individualized as the team limped into the playoffs. The team started 10-1, but there were indications among the leaders that the Eagles were not as good as their record indicated. That was evident over the last six games, leading to the demotion of defensive coordinator Sean Desai with three games left in the season and losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.
Jalen Hurts was injured entering the postseason. So did AJ Brown and Reed Blankenship. The Eagles fell apart at the seams, culminating in the wild-card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A year later, the Eagles are flying high on their way to the playoffs. After a 2-2 start that had many wondering about Sirianni’s future, the Eagles head coach is responsible for the team’s 12-1 finish and 14-3 record – the second 14-win season in the past three years.
The season had some difficult points, starting with the relationship between Hurts and Sirianni on the way to training camp. Sirianni had moments with the fansincluding one awkward press conference that didn’t help his actions on the field. Then came the The relationship between Hurts and AJ Brown is tested and how the two superstars actually were close.
The Eagles are coming off two 14-win seasons in franchise history. Sirianni has them both.
Sirianni has a .706 winning percentage through four seasons, fifth-best among all head coaches in NFL history (minimum 50 games). Only Guy Chamberlain (.784), John Madden (.759), Vince Lombardi (.738) and George Allen (.712) have a higher winning percentage than Sirianni, making what he has accomplished all the more impressive.
This is with three different offensive coordinators and three different defensive coordinators in four seasons. Also in a changed role from playcaller to CEO head trainerunder Sirianni, the Eagles have still found a way to win football games at a consistent pace.
Regardless of the obstacles Sirianni faced inside and outside the NovaCare Complex, the Eagles found a way to persevere and make the postseason. Sirianni’s job was in serious jeopardy this time last year, and the pressure is still on him to continue winning this year — even after a 14-3 regular season.
Some coaches are judged on their postseason success. Sirianni isn’t at that point in his career yet, but he’s also earned the benefit of the doubt if the Eagles don’t advance on Sunday.
The 2024 season could have gone south multiple times. Thanks to Sirianni’s determination, that never happened.
“He preaches the same thing, same details, togetherness and things like that,” Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith said. “And I think that’s why we’re taking it to the next level the way we are now.”
