Nick Sirianni is never too far from the headlines . It was no different as the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys renewed their age-old NFC East rivalry on the penultimate week of the NFL regular season. A day that started angrily, ended with another NFC East title for the Eagles, who secured a home playoff game after bouncing back from defeat to Washington in Week 16.
The 12-3 Eagles were looking to bounce back from their first defeat since September, but had Kenny Pickett starting at quarterback for the first time with Jalen Hurts ruled out with a concussion. The Eagles had started in perfect fashion, CJ Gardner-Johnson picking off Cooper Rush on the first drive of the game to give the home fans the perfect late Christmas present. However the Cowboys hit back to score a touchdown on the very next play and to level up the scores.
Amped up by the holiday period, their storied rivalry with the Cowboys and their desperation to claim the NFC East and a home playoff game, Philly fans decided they didn't want to wait much longer. They first rained down boos on the matchday officials for missed calls when it appeared that DeMarvion Overshown had shoved DeVonta Smith in the back, and had pulled him down by facemask. With both of those going unpunished, Philly fans turned their attention to Sirianni, who has taken plenty from the stands this season.
Pickett's very first drive of the game was in danger of fizzling out and faced with a fourth and short, the head coach opted to punt.