Chip Kelly: 'This Team Will Fight, Effort Is Non-Negotiable'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The possibility of the 9-3 Eagles missing the playoffs on black Friday, a day after their 33-10 thumping of the Cowboys, seemed unfathomable. A little over two weeks later, after Sunday night's devastating 38-27 loss in the rematch, that once impossible possibility has blossomed into a horrifying reality.
"I feel like we let an opportunity slip away and you can't do that against a good football team," Eagles coach Chip Kelly told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Monday. "What I do feel is you have to learn from it, but no one is feeling sorry for ourselves and that's not our mentality. You know, we're gonna stand in there toe-to-toe and we're gonna fight ya. We'll come back to work on Tuesday and I know this group, and I know the way they'll fight, and I know just the same way they fought and battled back in this game.
Listen to Chip Kelly on the 94WIP Morning Show:
"We did some uncharacteristic things that we can't do, that are gonna allow us to win football games, but this team will fight. Effort for this team is a non-negotiable thing and I know if we don't get effort then I'm gonna lose my mind. But if we're playing with great effort, we'll clean the other things up and we'll come back ready to play against Washington."
Opening Kickoff
Right from the get-go, the tone was set, as the Cowboys recovered the opening kickoff that landed around the Eagles' 20-yard line, one of the most bizarre plays you will ever see.
"I think he [Josh Huff] felt like the ball was gonna go over his head and then it kinda got caught up in the wind there a little bit. It actually landed in front of where our up-back is positioned," Kelly explained. "So, kind of a non-typical play, but I don't think it was a designed play. I don't think they were trying to specifically---I think it just kind of got caught up and we didn't judge it well."
Dez Bryant
Bradley Fletcher got the best of Dez Bryant in round one on Thanksgiving. Bryant responded, loudly, with three touchdowns on six catches for 114 yards.
"Our ability to shut down the run game means that we're going to have to leave some of our guys on islands out there," Kelly said. "Tony [Romo] played, obviously, a lot better this time than he did on Thanksgiving. They got the ball to Dez [Bryant]...and we all know he's a talented player."
Bryant caught his second touchdown early in the second quarter, but the Eagles did not make any defensive changes until late in the game.
"Cary [Williams] ended up over there on him [Bryant] and we switched sides," Kelly said. "You know, so we did make some adjustments, but they were probably a little too late."
Nick Foles
Mark Sanchez struggled for the second game in a row, throwing two interceptions and no touchdowns. Nick Foles, who has been out since injuring his collarbone in Week 9 against the Texans, could return to practice this week.
So, will Foles return as the starter?
"When we get the results on it, then we'll make decisions on it," Kelly said on Monday morning. "I don't know where he [Foles] is, so to waste my time trying to think of 27 different variations of how this happens. Can he do this? Can he take a hit? Can he not take a hit? He can play, but he can't do this? It's a waste of time. Tell me if he's ready to go and then we'll make decisions."
Playoff Scenarios
The 9-5 Eagles are now one game back of the 10-4 Cowboys in the NFC East. The Birds, who would hold the tie-breaker over the Cowboys if they win out, finish the season at Washington, then at New York (Giants). The Cowboys' last two games are vs. Indianapolis and then at Washington in Week 17.
Kelly says it's pointless for him, or his team, to even think about the different scenarios.
"I told them for us to be in you gotta be 11-5, but the only way to go 11-5, is to go 10-5," Kelly explained. "And our sole focus and concentration is on Washington and if we don't take care of business on Saturday we're wasting time thinking about anything else.
"We control the controllables and our controllable is our prep for Washington. So the rest of it is a waste of time, waste of energy. I'll leave that to you [Angelo Cataldi]."
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