The Philadelphia Eagles clinched a tight 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns, but the win came with its share of drama.
Head coach Nick Sirianni stole the spotlight, not for his game plan, but for his sideline antics.
Cameras caught him in a heated moment, yelling and gesturing at fans behind the team’s bench.
At one point, he even cupped his ear, as if to say he’d silenced the critics with the win.
Despite the victory, the Eagles’ offense sputtered at times, drawing boos from the home crowd.
The team’s struggle to pull away from the 1-5 Browns didn’t sit well with fans or media alike.
As NFL analysts took aim at Sirianni’s behavior, an unexpected defender stepped up: former Eagles center and newly minted ESPN analyst Jason Kelce.
On Monday Night Countdown, Kelce stood up for his old coach, painting a picture of a passionate leader who sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him.
“He’s passionate,” Kelce explained. “He loves his guys, he loves his team … Obviously he knows that was not the right way to handle that situation, and everybody knows it, that was inappropriate. But this is a guy that knows that his energy is going to feed the football team.”
Kelce also shared insights from the locker room, revealing that players like Brandon Graham are eager to see the old, fired-up Sirianni return.
He acknowledged that while the coach’s energy can occasionally misfire, it’s all part of the package.
“Trust me, I am very happy there has not been a camera on me sometimes either at the game or after the game,” Kelce admitted.
“If that is going to get the best out of him, that emotional energy that he can then infuse into other people, I’m all for it.”
Sirianni’s been under the microscope since last season’s collapse, when the Eagles’ impressive 10-1 start fizzled into a 1-6 finish.
This year hasn’t exactly dazzled the Philly faithful either. With a 3-2 record, fans are holding their breath, hoping for a turnaround after last season’s disappointing end.
