Head Coach Brian Daboll

Daboll: Tough game. Credit to Philly; that's a good football team over there. They pretty much did everything better than we did. So, get back to work, and get ready for Washington.

Q: A lot of people view this as sort of like a litmus test for you guys to see where you stand compared to some of the better teams or the best team in the NFL. What does it say to you?

A: We got beat handily. It was 48 to whatever it was (22). They're a good football team. Give them a lot of credit. Got to get back to work.

Q: Next week, you have a big game. How quick do you have to get this now in the rearview mirror to move on?

A: We'll go in tomorrow and watch the tape and learn from some of the things that we can do better and move on to Washington in the afternoon.

Q: What was your strategy for (running back) Saquon (Barkley)? Obviously, he started; he was able to play. Were you going to limit him even if the score didn't get out of hand?

A: Yeah, I wouldn't say we had a pitch count, but I think we had a plan. He came in early and got his treatment. He got looked at by the doctors and the medical staff. We were going to make sure we were being smart with him.

Q: How close was that decision as far as just holding him out versus playing. Was that something that was (discussed)?

A: He was good to go. But again, I just wanted to make sure we weren't overloading him.

Q: Second half there, that was you guys taking him out because of the game flow – not anything to do with the injury at that point?

A: Yeah.

Q: What was the explanation that (punter Jamie) Gillan gave you on the dropped punt? Did it fall out of his hands? Wind? Any explanation there?

A: Yeah, it just fell. Slipped.

Q: You raved about (Eagles quarterback) Jalen (Hurts) all week. Were you surprised by what type of performance he put out there today?

A: No. Good player. Good player; good team. He's hard to defend. They played well. And he played well.

Q: Do you think this kind of loss can be a reality check for a team to find out how close they are to being a contender?

A: No. You just got to get ready. I told you before, when you're winning, it's fine. When you're losing, it's humbling. You lose like this, you own it. You don't make any excuses. They played well. And we get to have an opportunity to get ready and play a big game on Sunday night.

Q: The execution, obviously, wasn't what you wanted. But were you okay with the effort part of it?

A: Yeah, I think the guys strained. They gave effort. They got off to a good, fast start, which they normally do – which is not how you want to play against that team. And (they) certainly competed. They kept making plays. We kept giving them opportunities; (there were) some short fields in the kicking game, whether it was a dropped punt or a return. So, the guys are busting their tail. We just got to do a little bit better.

Q: On the Gillan play, what is he coached to do in that situation?

A: I think he just – he tried to save it. We got to do a better job there.

Q: You talk so much about resilience. Is going into Washington, is that really a test of that resilience that you talk about?

A: I think any time you lose in this league, you have to be resilient. Particularly, the last few weeks, we've lost some games. (We) haven't had the results we want. So, again, you don't make any excuses. You own it, and everything starts with me. And we get ready to get to work for the next week. There's really no secret thing to just flip it right away. The guys are doing what we're asking them to do. We just got to do a little bit better, all of us.

Q: You guys gave up 253 yards rushing. What do you make of that?

A: That's a lot of yards rushing. We got to do better there.

Q: Why though? It seems to be against that edge. Why can't you protect the edge?

A: I think the flow of the game. It's a collective stat, too. When you're down what you're down – I mean, they didn't run the ball too much at half time. What did they have? Eight runs or something like that, which we talked about at halftime. We knew it would probably flip a little bit. And they're a good running team. I think Jalen (Hurts) made a few plays with his legs on some zone reads. And the (running) backs – they're a good team. They block it well up front. So, way too many yards.

Q: You gave up some real chunk plays in the passing game, the third down, with guys who you have to play with. Is it a situation where there's too many holes that you're trying to patch up here?

A: No. No excuses. They played good. They made some good throws and catches and give them credit.

Q: Would you like to make it more difficult, though, is what I'm saying?

A: Like?

Q: Make them not throw a 40-yard pass or a 35-yard pass? Make them kind of earn their way down the field instead of just throwing it over the top and running it into the endzone.

A: Absolutely.

Q: On the touchdown pass to (Eagles wide receiver) DeVonta (Smith) with (safety) Julian (Love) coming over the top, in that situation, what do you want him to do? And how should he play that?

A: I think he thought he had it. Try to go high point the ball, I think he thought he had it. When he came over to the bench, I asked him, 'What did you see?' (He said), 'I thought I had it.' So, DeVonta made a good play; we missed out on it. Big touchdown.

Q: No player likes to lose, but this kind of loss is pretty much a beat down. That can be demoralizing. Are you concerned that the guys in there are demoralized?

A: No. Again, it's hard to remain consistent after poor results. But I think that's something that we've stressed since day one; there's no room for excuses. There are a bunch of explanations. We got beat. They outcoached us. They outplayed us. And we got to get ready to go soon; the season's winding down here, and we got an important one on Sunday.

Q: What happened to (tight end Daniel) Bellinger? Did he get re-injured? Or he just couldn't go when he came back in?

A: I think he got re-injured. He came back. They looked at him. Then he went back. He's pretty sore. I think it was ribs, but I don't want to (say for sure). I didn't talk to the trainers, but I'm pretty sure it was.

Q: Is it unusual to play a team two weeks after you played them before? Are you used to that in terms of preparation for them?

A: I think, being in the league as long as I've been in the league, I'm sure there's certain times. But none of that really matters. It's 'get back to work', and we just prepared for that team. They had a bye week, so they haven't had an opponent. So, it'll be a big one on Sunday night.

Q: (Eagles running back) Boston Scott got you a few times on pretty good returns – one big one after you guys cut it to 21-7. Was that planned – shorter kicks? Or was that something (kicker) Graham (Gano) was coming up short (on)?

A: No, it wasn't necessarily planned. We got to do a good job on getting off blocks and running down in our lanes and making tackles.

Q: This is now one win in six games. What do you attribute this sputtering down the stretch to for the team?

A: I just look at this game. Just like in the beginning of the year, I don't think one game does anything to the next. I really don't think it does when you lose. You got to play well. You got to coach well. So, we'll have a big game against Washington. And that's where our focus is going to need to be.

Q: I know we talked about the consistency and staying consistent, but how do you tell these guys like, 'No matter what happened the last couple of weeks, it's all right in front of us,' and reset? How do you communicate that to them?

A: Just like that. Just honest.

Q: You want me to do it?

A: No (Laughs). Look, losing sucks. You put a lot into it. And look, we got beat. There's no other way to talk about it. We got beat in every area. They're a good football team. (We'll) think about it tonight and do the things you need to do to move on tomorrow. And get ready to play Washington.

Quarterback Daniel Jones

Q: Their defense has been pretty strong all year out there. Did you see anything different than what you had expected coming in preparing for the game?

A: No, nothing especially different really. They're a good team, fast and physical and execute their assignments. Credit to them but they played well today.

Q: When you guys get down in the hole like you did today, does that affect what you guys are trying to do offensively against them and give them the advantage when you're down 14 and it blooms from there?

A: Yeah, I mean I think it can. It can affect what we're doing. We can't afford to get off to a slow start like that. Didn't do much those first two drives and fell behind. We got to do something to catch ourselves and make a play and get going. It was disappointing we weren't able to do that. Yeah, I think when you get down in a game like that it can affect how you approach it.

Q: Did those two sacks in the first drive send a message from them or force you guys to have to make some adjustments earlier than you had planned?

A: I mean, they're a good rush. They're good up front. We knew that going into the game. I don't think that changed anything we were doing or changed our approach going forward at that point. Yeah, we got to find a way to make a play. Got to find a way to score some points and get going a little earlier in the game.

Q: Do you think this kind of loss can help the team get an honest assessment of where they are in trying to make the playoffs?

A: I think it can. They're a good team. Philadelphia is a really good team and we could see today we aren't where we need to be yet. At the same time, we did some things well we can build off of. We got to come back to work and come back ready to go. I think no one is losing confidence, no one is pointing fingers or anything like that. I think we're just getting back ready to work and looking forward for this huge opportunity for us against Washington.

Q: You played Washington last week and got them next week. Have you ever played a team so close together and if so, does it help or not a big deal in terms of preparing for them the second time?

A: Yeah, I mean I think it can help to have played them recently. You got the game to look back on and study what they did and what they had success with and areas where we had success. I think that's helpful. You got to be able to adjust and get a feel for what they're doing and they're playing. Each game is different. We'll understand that but certainly be prepared going in.

Q: How do you reset after one like this and, as you said, get ready for a huge opportunity next Sunday?

A: I think we've got to be very honest about what it is that we didn't do well today and what led to the result. At the same time, we got to correct that and then move forward, move past it. Understand that no one is going to feel sorry for us. It's up to us to fix it and to move forward. Everything we want to achieve is still out in front of us. The guys understand that and I'm confident we'll bounce back and have a great week of practice and prepare to play well on Sunday night.

Q: You have a lot of young guys in the locker room, you're four years in. For some guys, this is the first time they've experienced a loss like this. Do you feel it's like you have a responsibility to kind of get a temperature check on them and make sure their confidence level stays up?

A: Yeah, I mean I think so. We got a lot of leaders in the locker room, a lot of guys who have been around at least a few years and can help everyone out, help everyone understand that everything is still out in front of us. It was a tough one today for us, we didn't play well enough, but at the same time – there's another opportunity next week and that's what's most important now is how we fix this, how we clean this up and how we move forward. I know guys will be preaching that message and I'm confident we'll have that mindset going in.

Q: It seemed like there was a little uncertainty if (running back) Saquon (Barkley) was going to go today. When you found out he was going, how does that – but also (head coach Brian Daboll) Dabs said he wasn't going to put him on a pitch count and would be worked in with the other guys – how does that affect you guys offensively knowing that the last couple of days have kind of been up in the air and he was questionable and you're not sure what you're going to get out of him today?

A: I don't think it affected us too much. We were ready either way if he played or if he didn't and going to approach the game similarly. The guys who have stepped in, (running back Matt) Brieda and (running back) Gary (Brightwell), have done a really good job when he hasn't been able to go. We have confidence in them but obviously happy he was out there for us today. I don't think it changed a whole lot.

Q: What was your impression of watching (Philadelphia quarterback) Jalen Hurts? How good he is at this point of his career.

A: Yeah, he played well. He played well. He made a lot of good decisions, made plays with his arm, made plays with his legs and kept the offense going. He's playing at a really high level right now.

Q: (Safety) Julian (Love) just said it's the first time in his career that he's ever had, this late in the season, something to play for. For yourself, how does it feel as a team to have four games left and you guys control your own destiny?

A: It's exciting. There's a lot of guys who haven't experienced that. That hunger and the opportunity that's in front of us to get to the playoffs and play these meaningful games down the stretch is an awesome opportunity. We're excited. Everyone is going to be excited. We got to bounce back from this one, take what we can from it but move on and get ready to play our best game on Sunday night.

Running Back Saquon Barkley

Q: How do you feel health wise.

A: Pretty good. Came out of the game pretty well. I'm obviously disappointed in the outcome but should be good.

Q: How limited were you? Were you limited at all?

A: I wasn't limited. I think it was part of just the game plan. Obviously, we got down. I know that we were willing to get the rotation going and (Giants RBs) Gary (Brightwell) and (Matt) Breida went in there and did a good job too. But for me, obviously everyone knows my neck—kind of tweaked it or whatever in practice earlier the week—was limited all week but was able to pass the tests and was able to get out there.

Q: Did you have to fight your way into the lineup? Did they talk about holding you out and you said no, I want in?

A: It kind of was up to the last minute with the neck and the only thing I did was just continue to rehab it all week and trust the doctors, trust the trainers and they kept telling me if it keeps getting better, I'll get a shot and get a chance. Woke up this morning and I felt like I was ready to go and the doctor agreed with me I'm good to go.

Q: Does it feel any worse now?

A: No.

Q: It didn't affect you or anything like that?

A: No.

Q: Any doubt you'll be ready for next week? It's a big game next week, any doubt you'll be ready?

A: No doubt.

Q: How's your shoulder? It looks like you took a hard hit.

A: Yeah, someone ran on it, but I think it was flat, so it wasn't like anything crazy. Good run, landed, got four or five yards, came out the game for a play or two, part of the rotation, and that was it.

Q: Is the neck related to the shoulder injury you have been dealing with for much of the season?

A: I wouldn't say that, but you never know. Could be, but I (inaudible). Just talk to the doctors and was able to rehab it all week. Was able to come out here and play.

Q: You guys have lost some games here recently, but not like this. Does this one feel different the way you lost today?

A: Yeah. I mean we got our ass whipped. Point blank. But you can find beauty in everything. I really believe in that, and we've got to double down. We've got to come in, got to prep better, got to practice better. Everything we want is still in front of us. So, we've got a big one next week. Obviously, everyone knows about that, and we've just got to come out ready to play.

Q: Does it tell you anything, this game, about how much more work this organization has to get to that level you want to be at?

A: No, I mean, we have talent. We have talent in the locker room. We put ourselves in a really good position to play meaningful football in December and everything we want is still in front of us. They were the better team today. They got the best of us. They're a heck of a team and they were playing really well, but it's a long season and everything we want is in front of us, so we've got a big one coming this week and we've just got to focus on watching film, put it behind us and get ready for the next game.

Q: What makes you think you have the talent to play with them or beat them after what just happened out there today?

A: That's the NFL. Everyone is talented. Like clearly, they did a really good job today. Like I said, they whipped our ass, but the reason why I believe is because, one, I know the talent and I know the men we have in our locker room and I know the hard work that they put in, the prep that we put in and we're going through a rough patch right now. We're not playing well and that's it, that's on us. We've got to play better, but we've showed what we can do. We played against some really good teams early in the season and we beat some really good teams and that's the reason why we're in this position to be able to put ourselves in the tournament, put ourselves where everyone's goal is to be in the playoffs and play meaningful games in December and if we weren't talented and we weren't a good team, you know we wouldn't be in this situation and we are. So now we've got to double down, continue to believe in each other and it starts with all of us. It starts with myself, it starts with the leaders, and get ready to come out this week and get ready for a big game.

Q: Were your snaps limited today or could you have played more than that if the game was close?

A: I could have played more than that.

Q: I would say every game is important, but was there any thought of you not being 100% for next week's game and to sit out today?

A: Not in my mind. Every game is important. I was ready. I was ready to go, but obviously the game plan and just the way the game played out, that wasn't the case.

Q: Were you the one who wanted to sit? Coaches tell you to sit? It looked like you wanted to come in that one series in the third and from there you didn't play.

A: Kind of, Coach (Brian Daboll) kind of told me go with GB (Gary Brightwell) and (Matt) Breida. And I just tried to be a good teammate and be supportive. I mean, that's really what it is. I really don't know what the balance is like. If I don't play enough, I've got to answer the questions; if I play too much, I've got to answer those questions. I'm not really directly coming at you, but, I mean, I don't know what you guys really want from me with the answers on that. But it was part of the game plan. Obviously, I would have loved to play a lot more. The reason why I didn't play as much was not because of my neck. The Eagles played great. We got our ass whipped. We've just got to do better as a team, and it starts with the leaders and it starts with myself.

Q: Last week you played Washington, next week you play Washington. Have you ever played a team that close together and does it help or hinder your preparation?

A: No, never. I don't think it hinders it. It's part of it. We didn't make the schedule, the schedule is made that way. Can't make any excuses. We've just got to go. We've got to be ready. That's all it is. We've got to do the little things better. We've got to double down on every single thing that if we want to accomplish what we want to accomplish and all of our goals are still in front of us, we've just got to come out. It's a big week. Every week's a big week and it's getting deep in the season and we've got to continue to get healthy, trust the system, trust each other and the rest will play out how we want it if we do that.

Q: Why do you think the team has had this rough patch? Why do you think that's happened?

A: I mean every team kind of goes through adversity as well. Most teams go through adversity throughout the season. And we haven't, what are we the last 1-3-1 in the last four or five games or whatever, so that's why I would say call it a rough patch, I guess you want to call it adversity in our season. We started out really hot and now we've got to figure it out and that's life, that's football, that's in anything. That's in my job, in your profession, that's in someone outside's profession. You're going to have your ups and downs, but it's who you are in those moments and what better opportunity after a game getting embarrassed on tv in front of everyone and everyone outside of us is, 'the sky is falling, the sky's falling'. What better opportunity to come in and go against a divisional opponent, go to their home and try to come out with a win.

Q: How did it (the neck injury) happen in practice?

A: Just a regular play. Caught the ball, tagging off, kind of spun out of it, and something just flared in my neck, but, hey, everything happens for a reason. I'm just happy that I'm healthy, I was able to go today. Like I said, I would love to have played more, but I look forward to the next opportunity and I'm probably sure I will have more of a bigger role than this game.

Safety Julian Love

Q: What happened on that (Eagles wide receiver) DeVonta Smith touchdown?

A: Made a great break on the ball. (I) thought I had it. And in that situation, either I take him out or just highpoint it. I judged it, I thought, well. And I (said), 'I got to go up and get it.'

Q: Is that on your mind when you're in that situation? I know that's a split-second thing, but you've seen penalties called in that situation where if you try to take him out, that may be a penalty. Do you factor that in in that split-second, or is it just 'make the play in that moment'?

A: Yeah, I read it perfectly I thought. Ball was in the air. I thought it was slightly overthrown, so I thought I had an easy 'catch it' opportunity. I didn't realize his positioning. I just misjudged. So, in that situation I've got to make contact and go up and get it.

Q: This team has exceeded expectations this season, but obviously facing a team like the Eagles serves as a test. What does the result say about the team?

A: Sometimes, you get your ass beat. That's as simple as it is. But we can't let this fester really. We got to go in tomorrow, make corrections. And then our morale has to stay high because it's been high all year. That's what has brought close games home for us. So, that's kind of the story. That's the message: We got to correct this. It sucks. You're going to feel a little bit hurt, but you got to bounce back because we got important stuff in front of us still.

Q: Have you ever played against a team so close? You played Washington last week. You got them coming up next week. And what does that do for you preparation-wise?

A: I can't remember if I've ever had it this close together – especially division games. But I think they're fresh on your mind. So, we left some stuff out there last week that we had to make opportunities on this week. So, it's a big week of prep for us.

Q: This being the first time you've seen the Eagles live, how good are they in your estimation – just watching them up close and personal?

A: They're a good team. They're pretty balanced across the board. There were opportunities for plays from a few of us early in the game, and that's kind of been the story of that Eagles team. So, we got to make the plays because when that happens, then they get a lead. And we're stressing to make plays at that point. So, we got to keep the offense on the field. Defense has to get off the field much sooner. And they're a good team.

Q: You played against (Eagles quarterback) Jalen (Hurts) last year. Comparing him from last year to this year, it seems like he's made a huge step forward.

A: Yeah, I think their play calling has really stepped up and allowed him (to make) some good reads. When it's time to run, he's dangerous with his legs. They have a good (running) back to complement the run game, and then you add a guy like (Eagles wide receiver) A.J. Brown, it changes things. So, their team is pretty balanced. And thankfully, we have another shot at them.

Q: You said, obviously, you know what's in front of you. You guys know what's at stake next week in Washington – at least you do. As a locker room, is there an emotional component to this right now that if it's not overnight into tomorrow, where you said last week, there are leaders in this locker room that kind of make sure everybody knows what's at stake here?

A: Yeah, this is an emotional game. You work your ass off. You put your heart out there, and sometimes a result isn't what you want. That's life, and it's a good depiction in the game of football. For us, we prepared hard all week, and we fell very much short today. But that's the life of an NFL player; that's the life of an NFL team. So, for next week, you got to pick yourself up, fill the tank back up and go at it again. That's why we're out there – not only for what we do on the field, how physical we are, all that stuff, all the talents, all the gifts we have – but (for) the mental fortitude that we have as well. So, that's what this team is. So, that's what you're going to see next week.

Q: Back in September, you had high praise for (head coach Brian) Daboll and the culture that he had created in the building. What did he say to you after that play with (DeVonta) Smith or anything at all?

A: (Laughs) He said, 'What happened?' I told him I thought I had it, and he said, 'Okay.' That's pretty much it. I've said it before: The best players have to play the best. In that situation, yeah, I got to make the play. That helps out our team. That changes things drastically. You don't know where the game could be (if I'd made the play). There's a few plays out there that if we make the play, things change. And I wish I could be perfect. I misjudged it. I'm going to be working on that in practice this next week.

Q: Do you think that the deficit in the first half was just too much to overcome?

A: It's tough. When you're playing, by a lot of people('s standard), the best team in the league, yeah. You can't get down. You got to keep the game close. We've been doing that all year – keeping games close. And we didn't. We let up some big plays early on in all three phases of the game, really, to let that thing get out of hand. So, that's what it is. We have to start much faster next week.

Q: I know you guys aren't using injuries as an excuse, but we know you don't have Leo (defensive lineman Leonard Williams). You haven't had (cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson). You haven't had (safety) Xavier (McKinney), so this isn't the same defense that was together a month ago. Is there any sense that you guys can find something, maybe get a couple of those guys back in the stretch run to make a difference?

A: I'm not sure. I try to be available and be out there. It's the game of football, it's violent. And so, we took some tough breaks these past few weeks. We hope these guys can get back out there. We can't bank on that. The mentality really is 'help isn't on its way.' Everyone who's up, everyone who's playing, needs to play because you're not going to get bailed out. So, that's kind of the energy and the mindset we have: Yeah, we want some guys to come back – we want some guys to get healthy – but you got to do it yourself. So, that's what we're preaching right now in the locker room.

Q: Is this still a playoff team in your mind?

A: Yeah, without a doubt. Listen, I haven't been in this position. Four games left – I haven't been in this position to control my destiny, to control our destiny. And that juice has remained in the building. That energy has remained in the building, which is great. We're not depleted there. We got to shake this one off. But we have four games in front of us, starting with this next one against Washington, which is what you want. When you grow up, as a kid, you want games that are 'everything's on the line.' So, that's how we're treating it.

Outside Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux

Q: What was it that happened today?

A: They definitely got the best of us today. I think there's a lot of plays that we left out there today, and we just got to get ready for next week [against the Washington Commanders].

Q: Kayvon, was this a humbling game?

A: Definitely. When you take a loss like this, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and figure out what you got to do to get better.

Q: What do you have to look at in the mirror? What do you think needs to be addressed?

A: I would say it's too soon for me to say; I definitely got to take tonight to watch the tape and see where things went wrong. It's one thing to point fingers during a game or something like that, but at the end of the day, we lost as a team, we just got to figure it out and it's up to each individual to make sure that we win our battles.

Q: I asked you that because what do you think needs to be addressed? They [the Eagles] rushed for 253 yards today against you guys.

A: We got to be more stout up front, we got to hold our gaps and we got to make more plays.

Q: Does it feel like perhaps you guys are searching a little bit to try to re-discover what it is that got you the 6-1 and 7-2 records? You haven't won in four games, does it feel like there's a sense of searching here?

A: No, but I would definitely say it's not really searching, it's just kind of keeping that same commitment to the grind. As the season goes on, you coast and you get comfortable. So now, it's just getting back to what we know and getting back to the six pack, to the things that got us here.

Q: Would you say you guys got comfortable?

A: I wouldn't say we got comfortable. We definitely didn't make the plays we needed to make. I leave it all to execution. For out team, it's just things we've got to clean up.