Feeling upset that Eagles fans had chanted for his firing, Nick Sirianni couldn’t hold back his comments in the closing moments of the game.
The Philadelphia coach, known for his trash-talking, put a finger to his right ear and responded to fans in the front rows at Lincoln Financial Field.
After the Eagles barely secured a four-point victory against the struggling Browns, Sirianni wanted to make a statement, providing material for social media and tabloids about a coach whose job security is often questioned. Even in victory, he’s not winning any popularity contests in Philadelphia.
“Just excited to get the win,” Sirianni said. “Appreciate the Linc support.” He had to be even more grateful for the Eagles’ offense.
Jalen Hurts passed for 264 yards and threw two touchdowns, including a 45-yard throw to DeVonta Smith in the fourth quarter, leading Philadelphia to a 20-16 win over Cleveland on Sunday.
Hurts also connected with A.J. Brown for a 22-yard touchdown. Both receivers had recently returned from injuries, and the Eagles can’t afford to lose either of them again if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
Coming off a bye week, the already frustrating Eagles (3-2) had to fight hard against the Browns (1-5) in front of a mostly uninterested crowd. Before Smith’s touchdown, Eagles fans only showed enthusiasm when they chanted for Sirianni to be fired.
Sirianni mentioned that several players told him, “We need you back, Nick. We need your energy. We need your focus.”
“I encourage him to be himself. That’s who he is,” Hurts said.
With the Browns trailing 20-13, they moved into Eagles territory late in the game but had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins. Deshaun Watson was pushed out of bounds at the 2-yard line during a scramble and then threw an incomplete pass on third down.
The Eagles took possession with 3:54 left and didn’t let Cleveland get the ball back, with Hurts connecting with Brown for a 40-yard gain that sealed the game.
Sirianni had promised changes after the bye week, and he made one by shaving his head.
On the field, the Eagles mostly played as they had before. They turned running back Saquon Barkley into a non-factor, struggled to connect consistently with their star receivers, and had poor execution, especially on special teams.
The one saving grace? They faced the Browns.
Watson’s poor performance didn’t help ease the calls for the team’s $230 million quarterback to be benched. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 168 yards, and the Browns still haven’t scored an offensive touchdown this season, failing to reach 20 points in any game.
“We’re putting ourselves in the danger zone for not being able to accomplish what we want to accomplish,” Watson said.
Cleveland’s only touchdown came from a blocked field goal by All-Pro Myles Garrett, which Rodney McLeod Jr. returned untouched for a score. Watson was sacked three times and only threw for 49 yards in the first half.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who decided last week to keep calling the plays, remains committed to quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson is in the third year of a fully guaranteed five-year contract.
After the game, Stefanski said he would continue to support Watson, even as the Browns seem unlikely to have a playoff run like they did last year with then-backup Joe Flacco.
“I know the guys are fighting like crazy, and I appreciate that, but we’ve got to find a way to get a win against a good opponent,” Stefanski said. “We had our opportunities and did not come through.”
A.J. Brown had six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown after missing the last three games due to a hamstring injury. DeVonta Smith had three catches for 64 yards after sitting out a game because of a concussion.
“I haven’t played football in a month, so the little things I have to focus on, I have to focus on,” Brown said. “Make sure I’m really running instead of just looking up for the ball.”
After a scoreless first quarter for the fifth time this season, Jake Elliott finally scored with a 49-yard field goal.
The Eagles found some offensive momentum on their next drive: Hurts connected with Grant Calcaterra for 34 yards, then with Brown for 16 yards, and again with Brown for a 22-yard touchdown that made it 10-0.
Dustin Hopkins kicked a 43-yard field goal for the Browns, bringing the score to 10-3. The Eagles looked ready to go into halftime with a small lead when Elliott lined up for a 57-yard field goal attempt. However, Myles Garrett jumped over Tyler Steen to block the kick.
Former Eagles safety Rodney McLeod picked up the loose ball and ran 50 yards for a touchdown, completing a somersault in the end zone to tie the game 10-10 with 14 seconds left in the half.
Eagles fans, frustrated with Sirianni since last season’s late collapse, booed the team as they left the field. Some angry fans began chanting “Fire Nick!” while others at home wondered on social media if a coach could be fired at halftime.
“We thrive off the crowd when they cheer for us. That’s all I’ll say,” Sirianni said.
