Eagles Shift Mindset to Enjoy Ugly Victories This Season

Finding Joy in Close Wins

The Philadelphia Eagles opened their season with a narrow 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders. In previous years, a win by two points might have caused stress in the locker room. This season, the team is making a deliberate effort to enjoy every victory. Running back Saquon Barkley said the team is going to celebrate their wins, move on, and get ready for the next week.

Coach Nick Sirianni told his players not to let anyone steal their joy. The Eagles have won 51 games and lost 18 over the last four years, reaching two Super Bowls and winning one. Despite this success, the high expectations in Philadelphia have often made wins feel like disappointments. This was especially true in 2023 and 2025, when the locker room mood was down after Super Bowl appearances.

Changing the Mindset

Barkley is working hard to change his own outlook. He rushed for 1,140 yards and scored seven touchdowns in 2025, which was a drop from his performance in 2024 when he rushed for over 2,000 yards. He spoke with team psychiatrist Dr. Jody Foster on August 22 during a bus ride before a preseason game against the New England Patriots. She advised him to focus on short term goals and appreciate the process rather than just the final results.

During the season opener, Barkley had four runs for negative yards under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. In the past, Barkley admitted he would have sat on those bad plays for too long. Now, he is looking at them as a learning experience. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is also leading this change, keeping his focus on finding a way to win.

Coach Sirianni even used an episode of the television show Seinfeld to explain his point, noting that winning is always tough. Former Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, who is now with New England, often expressed frustration after imperfect wins last year. This year, the team wants to avoid that negative energy.