Game Changers

Big-time performances from key players carried the Philadelphia Eagles past the finish line against the New Orleans Saints, all in spite of questionable coaching decisions.

On the latest episode of “Q&A,” presented by “Inside The Birds,” former Eagles standouts Jason Avant and Quintin Mikell discussed the highs and lows of the team’s 15-12 victory.

GETTY IMAGES: Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter and the defensive line stood out in the Week 3 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Nick Sirianni

Quintin Mikell: “It feels like he is sitting at home on the controllers playing somebody in Madden…come on man, have some confidence in your team and defense, they’ve been playing well all game. It’s not a bad thing to get three points.”

Jason Avant: “Just be decisive in this sense. Make it make sense to all of us. You can’t just do stuff to put yourself on an island…it doesn’t have to be the Nick Sirianni show, and that’s what it came to at that game, you go for it once, you go for it twice, we’re not picking them up, but then you just keep going like you’re stubborn when we need points.”

Defensive Line

Mikell: “We saw multiple different fronts. The thing I really liked the most about the gameplan is there was a commitment to stop the run on first and second down…the guys got off blocks, they tackled well.”

Avant: “Jalen Carter played his best game of the season, he was unblockable that entire game…he got us off the field in the first couple of third downs with batted balls. He set a great pin-and-pull, a stunt that caused Jordan Davis to get that sack. He did a great job of quarterback pressures, sacks, he was balling that entire game.”

Vic Fangio

Mikell: “To be able to come out and stop the run first and second down and basically load it up and play bend, don’t break defense, that’s the way to beat these [Shanahan] offenses. I thought the gameplan was phenomenal.”

Saquon Barkley

Avant: “Saquon is our focal point…that dude is explosive and it happens so fast and they can’t get him and that’s rare. Think about how many times you’ve seen a running back go 60 without help. There were no receivers blocking. He’s a game changer so you have to give him the ball as much as possible.”

Dallas Goedert

Avant: “Jalen threw the ball to him 11 times, he caught 10 of them. That’s a great game by Dallas. He had a lot of crossers, a lot of shallows, some deep overs, he had a circle post that they threw backside to him…now his confidence is up and nobody on the [Saints] could guard him.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.