Thank George Kittle for firing up Eagles in NFC Championship Game
If you thought the Eagles defense had an extra edge to them on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game, you can thank George Kittle for that.
Because the Eagles didnt appreciate what Kittle said about their defense in the week leading up to the 38-7 Eagles win.
On the Big Play Slay podcast, Darius Slay explained that Kittles saying the Eagles defense looked good on paper, triggered him and his teammates.
But when he said that we looked good on paper, in the football world, we know how to take that, Slay said. Thats basically saying not too physical, thats talking bout we look talented on paper but are we gonna put the paper to the field? You know, so as a defense, with us being one of the best defenses in the league as well, we took that as disrespect.
Because we didnt say they looked good on paper. We said theyre a great defense, theyre a great team. We were trying to show our respect, which respect is due. But him saying that triggered a lot of guys in the locker room, including myself. Even though I still have a lot of respect for the guy, but it triggered us to go out and play a lot harder to show whos physical. So you seen as the game was going on, you see who been the most physical team.
Slay said the Eagles gave the 49ers their due respect all week; he and his teammates didnt feel like they received that from Kittle.
NFL teams are always looking for any kind of edge, any kind of bulletin board material to get them a little more juiced up for a game. The Eagles found it in Kittles comments, but you can judge for yourself if their respond was justified.
During the week leading up to the NFC Championship Game, Kittle was asked if the Eagles had the personnel to match the 49ers physicality.
Here was his answer:
Well see on Sunday, wont we? I mean, theyve got six first-round draft picks on the defensive line, theyve got a really good secondary, theyve got physical guys at linebacker. So whatever you see on paper, sure. Its the NFL. When you look at paper, it should be like, Oh yeah, we can match their physicality and stuff like that. And then you get on the field on Sundays and the film after the game will show you exactly what youre asking. I know were going to come out, were going to be violent, physical, Im expecting them to do the same thing. Well see.
The Eagles defense gave up a touchdown drive in the second quarter and that was it in the 38-7 win. They also knocked both of the 49ers quarterbacks out of the game. While Slay said he never wants to see anyone get injured, knocking two QBs out of the game does show the type of physicality the Eagles played with.
And it wasnt just Slay who felt that way about Kittles comments. Several other Eagles did too, including fellow defensive captain Fletcher Cox.
Cox also brought up Kittles comment in an interview with "The paper defense...I think we made 85 eat those comments." @fcoxx_91 postgame- @CBSSportsHQ pic.twitter.com/Ysy9iF9fUc
The paper defense, Cox said. So right now were just a paper team. Looks good on paper. I think we made 85 eat those comments.
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