5 hot topics as unbeaten Eagles prep for NFC East opener vs. Washington

It's a short week for the Eagles after Monday night's 25-11 win at Tampa Bay with a possible tall order looming.

The Eagles (3-0) are among three remaining unbeaten NFL teams, along with the 49ers and Dolphins, heading into Sunday's NFC East opener against Washington (2-1).

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field.

Last year the Eagles were 8-0 before the Commanders came north for a Nov. 14 Monday night visit and prevailed 32-21. They'll be trying to avoid a repeat.

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It'll be the first time the Eagles have faced Washington since Eric Bieniemy left Andy Reid and the Chiefs to become offensive coordinator after last season.

But there was plenty about the win over the Buccaneers, including the performances of a couple of second-year Eagles, that lingered as Eagles coach Nick Siranni and quarterback Jalen Hurts spoke to the media Wednesday.

Happy returns for Covey

Eagles' second-year punt returnman Britain Covey, an undrafted free agent out of Utah, had a career-best 52-yard runback at Tampa Bay.

"That was great," Sirianni said. "Reliable, really explosive and he did what we've seen over and over again in practice since he's got here."

Covey continued to show his reliability and earn praise while dwelling on the practice squad roster and being regularly elevated for game action.

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His 18.8-yard average on six returns this year is tied for second-best in the NFL. Last season his 308 return yards ranked eighth in the league and his 9.3 average was 12th.

"We know we got maybe a hidden gem that not everybody always fully appreciates," Sirianni said. "Shoot, we sure do."

Jurgens steady at guard

The Eagles' highly regarded offensive line once again stood out with the way it handled a strong Bucs defensive front and paved the way for D'Andre Swift's 130 rushing yards Monday while its newest member met the challenge.

A three-year starting center at Nebraska, where he first played tight end, second-year Eagle Cam Jurgens continued to settle in as the starting right guard.

"After every game, we felt like he's played good," Sirianni said. "So three good games in a row and we just want to continue with that. He's fit in nicely. He's in between two pretty good players [center Jason Kelce and tackle Lane Johnson] that helps that transition."

Name game

The Eagles have had considerable success and gained notoriety on the short-yardage play in which Hurts keeps the football in quarterback-sneak form and gets a helpful thrust from teammates behind into the pile of football humanity ahead.

It's been routinely called the "tush push," though Sirianni enjoyed hearing Wednesday that some have also billed it "the brotherly shove" because of its Philly roots.

"I kinda like that," he said.

Sirianni said, "We knew the rules," when asked if the legality of such a play was ever a concern, adding anytime a quirky play is added, the rulebook is checked.

"It's been a good play for us," he said.

Home away from home

Many Eagles fans flocked to Raymond James Stadium for Monday's game, giving it a greenish hue while loudly letting the home team know they were there.

"What an advantage," Sirianni said. "We have the best fans in the NFL and when you're playing a game in the NFL where the parity is so tight, that makes a huge difference.

"Everything makes a huge difference, especially the crowd noise, especially the deflating of the opposing team when you come out and they're getting booed while they're going through starting lineups. Trust me, I heard that."

Memory fresh

Hurts has lost once in his last 21 regular-season starts at quarterback for the Eagles and it came in Washington's visit last year.

"The reality is, regardless of who we're playing, this is about how we execute," said Hurts, later adding that Washington's front can be especially "disruptive."

One area Hurts would like to see the Eagles improve is red-zone offense, in which it has six touchdowns, four field goals and a 66.7 success rate that is tied for seventh in the NFL.

Of course, the Eagles didn't need to score in their most recent red-zone excursion as they ran out the final 9:22 at Tampa Bay in a drive that ended at the Bucs' 7.

"To have nine minutes run off the clock in a 4-minute drill is pretty outstanding," Sirianni said.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Covey, Jurgens settling in as Philadelphia Eagles prep for Commanders