Who Can Stop Them?

The 9-2 Philadelphia Eagles continue to soar to greater heights coming off their 37-20 primetime victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

On the latest edition of “Q&A” on “Inside The Birds,” former Eagles standouts Jason Avant and Quintin Mikell discussed the biggest takeaways from the Week 12 win.

GETTY IMAGES: Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley’s game went to the next level with 302 total yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams.

Nick Sirianni

Jason Avant: “This is three times where Nick Sirianni has started 9-2. That is insane. This guy, whether he is quirky or not, the players play for him…The players are ready to play and he has figured out a way to win games. He is 43-19 as a coach, far better than anybody in his coaching class.”

Saquon Barkley

Quintin Mikell: “He is unreal. That first play in the second half, the split zone, it was well blocked, but the Rams had numbers. He found a lane, a jump cut and took it the distance. This is something you see in high school football, a running back breaking multiple 70-yard runs. It’s phenomenal, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Jason Avant: “It’s blocked up, he’s leading the league in yards before contact, so the offensive line is doing an amazing job…that’s what happens you have a home run hitter, you make other people better.”

Brandon Graham

Mikell: “In terms of on the field stuff, this team can manage. (Vic) Fangio has done a fantastic job being able to put players in the positions that suit them. He’ll find a way to fix that part. In terms of off the field stuff, it’s going to be tough. He’s a motivational guy.”

Avant: “I don’t know if I have much belief. We’re down Bryce Huff because of injury and now we’re down Brandon. Now we’re totally dependent on Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and (Josh) Sweat. They don’t have much depth at that position. I’m sure someone is going to be signed, but there’s no one left to sign.”

Secondary

Avant: “The secondary challenged the guys and that’s what we like to see. Earlier in the season, we constantly talked about guys just giving up free yards. Now, they are willing and able to challenge these guys. (Matthew) Stafford had to thread the needle all night for them to get completions.”

A.J. Brown

Mikell: “He’s a 6-1 running back playing receiver. He’s a big, strong, athletic, run-after-catch type of player. He’s physical, and not just after he gets the ball, he’s physical in his route running. You’re not going to be able to just muscle him at the line unless you’re a corner that’s his size, and even then he can still toss you.”

Avant: “His ability to run after the catch and feel defenders is just special, he knows where people are.”

Jalen Hurts

Avant: “It was the best game Jalen Hurts played all year. Five or six times, before the defense was bearing down on him, got the ball out of his hands, threw it away right away…[he] got the ball out of his hands, threw it at the dirt when he needed to, was accurate most of the game.”

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