This unit got high praise in Nick Sirianni's fiery post-game locker room speech

This unit got high praise in Nick Sirianni's fiery post-game locker room speech originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

If you watch the post-game locker room videos the Eagles post after wins, you see a pretty fired-up version of Nick Sirianni.

Lots of screaming. Lots of yelling. Lots of cursing.

Always fun to see that side of Sirianni.

After the win over the Cowboys, he was especially effusive, making sure to single out special teams, which may have saved the game for the Eagles.

Great job, special teams," Sirianni bellowed in the home locker room at the Linc early Friday morning. Greatjob. Hey, you guys don't get the credit ever that you deserve. Braden and Jake did a freaking excellent job. Michael Clay continues to be a great coach. All you guys do is play your heart out for that guy and I freaking love it."

On a day when thedefense gave up 20 points in the first half and theoffense managed just three points in the second half, specialteams was exceptional in the Eagles' season-opening win over the Cowboys.

Whether it was coverage on KaVontae Turpin, Braden Mann's clutching punting or Jake Elliott's brilliant kickoffs and monster field goal, coach Clay's units rose to the occasion on a night when not a lot was going right.

On Monday, Sirianni expounded on his remarks after the game in the locker room.

I think that we had such a challenge in this game with Turpin," he said. I think he's a phenomenal returner, dual-threat returner. And we knew we were going to have to get a great contribution from Braden, where he placed the football, and we knew we were going to have to get a great contribution from Jake, where he placed the football. And then we would have to get all 10 guys (covering)."

Turpin's 28.8 career kick return average is 3^rd-highest in NFL history and obviously the play has changed in recent years, but his 33.5 average last year was highest in NFL history (minimum 24 returns). His 9.5 punt return average is very good, but it's his kick returns that are such a weapon.

But Elliott's kickoffs and outstanding coverage kept Turpin bottled up, and he averaged just 20.3 yards on four kicks, 3^rd-lowest of his career and lowest since he averaged 16.5 yards on two returns vs. the 49ers in October 2023.

Mann punted three times for a huge 48.7 net average - highest in the NFL in Week 1 - with two inside the 20, one fair catch and no return yards. Sydney Brown and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were each in on two tackles on Turpin and Kylen Granson and Josh Uche also had stops on the 1^st-team all-pro.

I really get fired up about block destruction and tackling," Sirianni said. I know you guys think I'm an offensive guy, but those things right there fire me up so much because you work so hard on that fundamental and it takes great physical toughness and all those things to get that done and we got thoseefforts from the guys. We got great block destruction which we work so hard on on the kickoff unit and we knew there'd be more returns in this game too based offthe rule changes, and we put a big emphasis on that.

We knew how good we had to be in coverage. And we have to continue to be good in the coverage. I was really excited about the way we beat blocks and the way we tackled."

The new rule moving touchbacks out to the 35 instead of the 30 puts a premium on keeping the ball in play, which works to Turpin's strength. But only five teams allowed fewer yards per kick return on opening weekend. Only six other teams didn't allow any punt return yards.

In the game's final 7 minutes, with the Eagles protecting a four-point lead, Mann bounded two unreturnable punts down to the 12 and 18 as the explosive Turpin watched helplessly.

And we can't forget Elliott's 58-yard field goal in the third quarter, tied for 5^th-longest in franchise history and tied for his 4^th-longest.

If he misses it - and his longest last year was just 50 yards - it's a one-point game and the Cowboys just need a field goal to win. Whole different game.

You're always looking for ways that you want your team to show their toughness and their physicality because that's the game of football," Sirianni said. And I think we could see that. We talked about relentless effort all last week. That was such an emphasis that we wanted to make sure we put on tape.

And special teams is a big part of your relentless effort. For guys that may not, you know, some guys have a bigger role on offense, defense, some don't. And that's their time to shine. I know coach Clay emphasized that effort as well.

I always want to be able to show those guys how important it is for everybody to, you know, for the contributions of everybody and recognize those guys in those scenarios when you do have a big challenge like that with Turpin. And I just thought our guys played really hard, really physical, really tough, and they got the job done. So just pumped about that."