Zack Baun 'surprised' by the loyalty of his Wisconsin hometown

“Zack is just a guy that’s tough, physical, loves football. Great work ethic, those guys that have all that, usually have an opportunity to reach their ceiling,” Head Coach Nick Sirianni said on Friday. “And he just keeps getting better, so I don’t think we know what his ceiling is. You know, he keeps getting better with every rep that he gets on the inside at linebacker. Very versatile, the different things that he can do. He’s worked really hard at that. You know, there’s – (Defensive Coordinator) Vic (Fangio) has done a great job of putting him in positions to succeed. (Inside Linebackers Coach) Bobby King and (Assistant Linebackers/Defensive Quality Control Coach) Ronell Williams have done a great job of helping him get better with his fundamentals day in and day out.”

Baun was on the field for 95 percent of the snaps on defense through the first 16 games of the season before a majority of starters were rested in the regular-season finale.

“Individual awards are what they are. I’m really proud of what we’re able to do as a defense this year,” Baun.

The Eagles led the league in total defense in terms of yards allowed for just the seventh time in franchise history and the first time since the historic Gang Green defense of 1991. The Eagles also led the league in passing yards allowed. Following the Week 6 bye, Philadelphia led the NFL in defensive points allowed, yards allowed, passing defense, opposing three-and-out percentage, opponent passer rating, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, and tied for first in takeaways.

But the Eagles allowed 29 points and 414 yards of total offense. The Eagles, believe it or not, were outgained on the ground.

“By no means a clean game. I nitpick on the scheme stuff that I did wrong,” Baun said of the opening game. “They’re confident and they’re committed to the run game. They do a lot of different things in the run game.”

Sunday marks a clean slate. It’s just Baun’s second playoff game, after sort of experiencing the atmosphere as a rookie with the Saints during the COVID year of 2020 when there was a limited amount of fans in the stadium.

“The guys in the locker room are accustomed to making the playoffs,” Baun said. “You have to hear it from guys who have been around the league and maybe haven’t won a division championship or won a playoff game or haven’t even been to the playoffs. Those guys have to hear it from the other guys to gain that appreciation, ‘OK, what we’re doing is special here. This doesn’t come around very often.’”

Baun said the prevailing message from Sirianni this week is to remain consistent with what got the team here.

“It’s the same routine. It has to be that way because if you start making things more than what they are, and, obviously, it’s a big game, but if you start changing your routines, then you’re acting different, then you’re treating the game different. And it shouldn’t be like that,” Baun said. “If you’re a consistent player and it’s a consistent coach and a consistent team, then you should already have those habits built in.”

Of course, don’t expect the fans to treat it like any ordinary Sunday.

“The guys have been telling me about how exciting it gets in there and rowdy it gets in there during the playoffs,” Baun said. “I’m excited for it.”

As well as the chance to disappoint the roughly 13,000 people of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, and Packers fans all over the globe.