Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: Defensively, why didn't you guys send more pressure after (Saints quarterback Derek) Carr? Like, more blitzers to try and rattle him?

A: I think (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale) mixed it up. There were a few times that we brought it where it was close. There were other times where he's getting the ball out quick and using some action. I thought he did a good job of mixing it up.

Q: This has been kind of happening all year, but I don't know if I've ever asked you yet, though. Why does (running back) Saquon (Barkley) come out so much on third down?

A: I think that if Saquon needs a break, then he comes out. We put the next person in. Saquon's obviously an important player for us. He plays as much as he can play. If he needs a blow, we put another guy in.

Q: So, he just tends to need breaks on third down, third-and-long?

A: Yeah. I mean, I couldn't tell you the exact amount of third-and-longs or whatever it is, but he'll stay out there as long as he can.

Q: How does (Saquon) handle this? You've seen him now for a couple of seasons. When he doesn't get the production, he's not getting yards, everyone's frustrated. For a player of his caliber, how do you see him handling that?

A: Like a pro.

Q: What does that mean exactly?

A: He's a professional. He does his job. He does it to the best of his ability. He does everything he can to put his best foot forward.

Q: I mean, it's got to be difficult for a running back. A receiver might not get the targets, but a running back keeps on getting it, and getting it, and getting it into the line. There was clearly nothing there yesterday. When you looked at it, was it something more that he was doing, or the offensive line, in your mind?

A: I think it's a collective. Everything offensively is always a collective effort.

Q: Did the offensive line take a little step back yesterday in your mind? A: Well, every game is different. So, I'll give credit to New Orleans. They did a good job. They created some issues both in the run and the pass, some with just a four-man rush, some with more, but credit to those guys as well.

A: Well, every game is different. So, I'll give credit to New Orleans. They did a good job. They created some issues both in the run and the pass, some with just a four-man rush, some with more, but credit to those guys as well

Q: How's (quarterback) Tommy (DeVito) feeling this morning? Because he got checked yesterday for the concussion. Also, what did you see when you went back and looked from his performance?

A: I thought, again, like I said yesterday, there were some things that we could have done around him to be better, but there's also some throws that he wishes he had back.

Q: How's he feeling? Is he alright?

A: Yeah, he's okay. He's sore. He took some shots, but from my understanding, he's just sore.

Q: I know on that last sack he took in the game he definitely grabbed at his leg. Did he hurt his ankle or something there, or something in his lower leg?

A: No, he just said he was sore. He was watching the tape upstairs with (Quarterbacks Coach) Shea (Tierney), I just popped my head in and said, 'How you feeling?' He said he's sore. I'll meet with the medical people after this meeting.

Q: You named Tommy the starter for Christmas Day in Philly right after the game. I was just curious why?

A: He's earned it. I'm not going to make a week-to-week change. He's earned it. It's not always going to be perfect, but he's earned the opportunity to play.

Q: If a performance doesn't go well, I feel like you normally kind of go back, reevaluate, and look at your options before making that call, as opposed to just kind of saying it right then and there.

A: No, I felt comfortable saying it there that he's going to be the starter.

Q: So you think he gives you the best chance to win in Philly?

A: Yeah, that's why we're playing him.

Q: One of the performances that kind of stood out to me yesterday was (defensive lineman) A'Shawn Robinson. Was that his best game?

A: He's been playing well. He's been playing well, really all season. Got a lot of confidence in him, but he's been really playing well these last few weeks. Stout, good knockback, productive. He's certainly done a good job for us.

Q: I assume (kicker) Cade York will be the kicker this weekend, even though you haven't met with the medical people?

A: I'll have more for you guys on Wednesday with that.

Q: If the game was closer and you were getting in field goal range, was your thought process that you could have (punter) Jamie (Gillan) kick any normal field goal? Or did you feel in your head we kind of have to get closer or go for touchdowns here?

A: We communicated after (kicker) Randy (Bullock) went down relative to his line, what he felt comfortable with. So, we were aware of where we wanted to get the ball to or fourth-down potentials that we would have the rest of the way.

Q: So, you would have kicked field goals if you needed to?

A: If we got it to the certain area that we needed to get it to. But there were a whole bunch of conversations. That, two-point plays, a lot of things that were factoring in there.

Q: I'm sure it adds another layer of uncertainty during the game, I would think. Early in the game.

A: Sure.

Q: Can you just run us through what your plan is? I know it's a little bit of an unorthodox week for you guys.

A: So, Wednesday will be a normal Wednesday. Thursday will be a normal Thursday. Players will have off Friday. Saturday will be like a Friday. Sunday, like Saturday.

Q: You're just adding an extra day off, basically, on Friday for them?

A: Friday, yeah.

Q: Tuesday and Friday.

A: Yeah. There were a couple of different ways we could have went with it in terms of sports science. Sat down and talked with the captains. This is the direction we're going this week

Guard Ben Bredeson

Q: What was your assessment of what happened yesterday upfront? You guys had been playing so much better, was it sort of a step back yesterday in your mind?

A: We just didn't execute well enough. You know there are things to improve that we've addressed in the film and things were looking forward to correct heading into Philly.

Q: What did you see especially in the run game? (Running back) Saquon (Barkley) just could not get on track at all.

A: Yeah, it just seemed like we were one piece off on a lot of those run plays. It was just something every time and there are things that we've – like I've said before, that we are looking to correct heading into Philly.

Q: They were doing a lot of movement upfront weren't they? Kind of like, almost like, run games in a sense, I know (guard) Justin (Pugh) was talking about it a little bit, did you see that also and is that difficult to deal with?

A: Yeah, there was some of that. It's part of the job and you've got to block guys and they're allowed to move so we just have to work in tandem and work as unit and handle the movement and get on our guys and get Saquon through there.

Q: There was some bad weather in New York, New Jersey area last night when you guys got on the flight. Were you aware of that and was it a bumpier ride than usual?

A: No, it was just raining when we got off the plane. That was it.

Q: Not a turbulence issue or anything?

A: Nothing that I felt, no.

Q: What do you think of the challenges that the Eagles present for your offense?

A: They've done a good job of building their defense. They've got a couple of core guys that have been there for a long time and some newer defensive lineman. They've always got a good front and that's something that we're keyed in on and something that we have to handle.

Q: With the teams record as it is at this point and being kind of a long shot, how hard do you think is it for the group to push forward and to stay motivated when the playoffs look like such a long shot?

A: We have a great culture here. It's a very process-oriented mindset, that's something that Dabs (Head Coach Brian Daboll) preaches all the time. We're looking to improve from the last week and correct the mistakes and move forward to the next week and go win a game one week at a time.

Linebacker Micah McFadden

Q. How hard is it at this point at 5-9 and the playoffs look like a long shot, how hard will it be, do you think, for the group to be motivated going forward? Everybody is watching your film in every game? How do you feel this group will handle being close to being out of it?

A: It's definitely difficult. I don't think anybody in this building thought we'd be where we are at this point. But as far as motivation, we're process driven here. We stick to what we do each week and that's just focusing on winning one game at a time.

Q. You have Philly twice, then the Rams. How difficult is the remaining schedule look at this point?

A: Every game is pretty difficult. Every team in the NFL brings it every week, it's always going to be a difficult challenge. No doubt, we've definitely got a tough few games down the stretch here. Just got to go find a win to win a couple of them.

Q. Obviously last year, the Eagles beat you guys three times, including the playoffs. And the talk this year is 'we've got to get better to see where we kind of match up with them.' How much does that still hold true as players? And how much do you still keep that in your memory about last year?

A: Whenever it's a division opponent, you want to beat them and obviously we play those teams twice. I think it's going to be a good challenge this week and obviously, they're a good football team. But like I said earlier, it just comes down to our process, preparing the right way, and practicing well and figuring it all out throughout the week to put it all out on gameday and perform well to get the results we want.

Q. Is that playoff game from last year something that you personally use as motivation?

A: Yeah, I mean, without a doubt. Whenever you get knocked out of the playoffs like that – obviously, we don't think about the past too much, kind of focus on what's ahead of us, but that definitely stung a little bit to get knocked out by a team in your division.

Q. When you look at the second half in particular yesterday, did you think your defense was past that kind of performance? You guys had been playing well and getting pressure, stopping the run, there was not a lot of that in the second half. What was your assessment of what went on after halftime yesterday?

A: We just didn't do the things that we needed to do to help our team win. Played a solid first half, I still think there were things to correct. Obviously, that's with every game but give credit to them, they played a more complete game than us. Just got to find a way to perform better and do more things to help the team win.

Q. We talked about – you asked a question earlier about playing in these last three games when it's not a playoff carrot sitting out there. Do you look at it as a chance to further your foot hole in where you are as a starting linebacker in this league? Playing alongside (inside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke), do you think you've established something that you can help establish that even more down the stretch here?

A: I just try to get better every week, work on my craft and continue to improve. I always focus on the team first and do whatever I can to help this team be great. But yeah, of course – just trying to get better and perform well next week.

Q. Do you think you and Bobby kind of have a good thing going right now together inside?

A: I think yesterday we could've done a lot of things better, kind of talked about it on the plane afterwards. But I think we're kind of finding our role in this defense. Like I said, still a lot of things to improve upon.

Q. When you guys boarded the flight, there was a lot of stormy situations in New York and New Jersey. Was that a topic of discussion at all? There was a chance maybe it would be a rocky flight. Where there nervous flyers who were talking about stuff like that?

A: I didn't even really notice until we were in the air, and I looked out the window and it was pouring rain outside. I didn't even know what the weather was like, honestly.

Q. It was just a fine descent and landing?

A: Yeah, yeah. There was probably a little applause back there, for sure.

Q. There was?

A: Yeah.

Q. But was it a little bumpy?

A: A little bit. There was some turbulence.

Q. I just have a quick question on the Eagles and their fans. Do you ever have that feeling (that) 'I just want to go down there and beat that team. I don't like them; I don't like the fans?'

A: They have a good culture down there, for sure, it's a fun place to play. Yeah, I think we want to beat every team but obviously a divisional opponent, for sure.