Back in Week 5, with an early bye, the Eagles sat at 2-2 with an uncertain future. There were plenty of questions about the offense and the direction it was going.
And so, head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts got to work.
With an eye on bonding, and a mission of improving the entire operation, Sirianni and Hurts decided not to use the bye week to rest. Instead, they decided to stay connected -- on Zoom, on the phone and in person. According to multiple sources, they spent hours each day breaking down the team, focusing on the offense, spotlighting leadership and hitting on all issues.
It was, in the words of one source, "a galvanizing moment" in the season.
And while the focus on the relationship between Hurts and Sirianni was a major theme this offseason, with the spotlight off during the bye, it thrived. And so has the team.
Since the bye, Philly has won seven in a row heading into today’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, scoring 30 points per game -- fourth in the NFL. There was also a renewed focus on running the ball and being physical, as Saquon Barkley has gone off and the team's 216 rushing yards per game leads the NFL. The Eagles' three turnovers are tied for fewest in the league.
How did it all happen? According to sources, fairly organically.
Before breaking for the bye, there was a discussion essentially centered around this: What's the best message to deliver to the team, and what's the best direction? It was a nonstop deep dive, involving the other coaches, too.
According to a source, Hurts and Sirianni spent roughly two hours on phones, FaceTime, Zoom and in person. Then, randomly, they'd talk for 30 minutes a day if something came up. They reviewed call sheets, talked about the team's identity and Hurts asked pointed questions about what he can improve upon.
And it wasn't just the two of them. The entire staff would get involved, with the offensive line and Barkley joining in with respected offensive staffers such as OC Kellen Moore and passing game coordinator and associate head coach Kevin Patullo, as well.
Most teams are happy to take a full breather during the bye. But, in part because of the Eagles' early bye and not necessarily needing rest, all parties continued to work.
It was nonstop questions, from what have we done in the past that we liked, to what did we do in camp, to what's not working and so on. One source reflected how cool it was for Sirianni and Hurts to bond.
While many questions surrounded the relationship between Sirianni and Hurts, it was, in fact, a work in progress. And they've made progress.
Hurts has also benefitted, as he's thrown nine touchdowns against one interception since the bye, with a league-best nine rushing TDs and a third-best passer rating of 116.6. He's excelled.
And when the Eagles won on Thursday night in Week 11 against the Commanders, triggering their mini-bye, they did another mini-self scout. The goal?
To continue to be the most physical team.
