Philadelphia

Doug Pederson's New Eagles Playoff Demeanor

Watch Doug Pederson speak live about preps for his team's playoff showdown with the Falcons.

Playoff Doug Pederson has a stern face and doesn't take kindly to questions he doesn't want answered. 

As the Eagles begin their preparations for the divisional round opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, the Eagles' head coach tried to preach that he wants to handle this week like any other, but his actions suggest this isn't any normal week. 

At his Tuesday press conference, Pederson was stern, curt, and without injury update. He said it would come out later. 

He did share his message to Nick Foles: "Listen, we have a great opportunity. Let's go be Nick. Let's go play. Let's execute the offense."

And his message to the team: "Same thing. We've got a great opportunity. Backs against the wall. Let's come out swinging and see what happens."

It might seem strange for a No. 1 seed coming off a first-round bye to have its back against the wall, but the Eagles enter Saturday's playoff game with Foles as its starting quarterback and as the underdog in their own building. 

As Pederson prepares for his first playoff game as head coach, he said he's been leaning on his experiences as a player and as an assistant coach during similar times. 

"To be where we're at and to have a home playoff game and feed off the fans, the crowd, which is going to be electric on Saturday afternoon," he said. "And just stay in the moment. Do the things that got us to where we are today. And that's kind of been my mindset the last couple of weeks."

The Eagles do have several veterans with considerable playoff experience. They even have a few players who have played in and won a Super Bowl. Pederson is hoping those players will embrace their younger players who haven't been to the postseason. 

No matter what they do, playing in the playoffs will be new for about half of the active roster. Pederson was asked if he wonders how they'll respond. 
 
"Oh yeah, you always wonder. Do you wonder?" Pederson questioned. "There's going to be wonder. But listen, these guys are football players. And I think sometimes the outside, whether it be media or fans, can make it bigger than it really is. 

"When you boil it down, it's football at the end of the day. Just go do your job. Do what you've been coached to do all week long and give it your best effort on Saturday. If it's good enough, great. If it's not, then we focus on next season. But it's football, these guys are football players. They're going to be coached up and ready to go."

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