‘Got to grow the hell up’: C.J. Gardner-Johnson atones with 2 INTs as Eagles whip the Cowboys to clinch NFC East
After his untimely ejection in last week's loss helped spoil a chance to capture the division, Gardner-Johnson made up for it against the Cowboys.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson stood in the victorious Eagles locker room wearing a black ski mask. His dark eyes were visible, but the mouth that often gets the safety into trouble was covered with a red and white label that read, “Supreme.”
The vociferous Gardner-Johnson didn’t do much yapping on Sunday. He let two supreme interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, do most of the talking in the Eagles’ 41-7 destruction of the lowly Cowboys that clinched the NFC East.
The division title was there for the taking a week ago against the Commanders, but it slipped away, in part, because Gardner-Johnson was ejected for taunting. It remains unclear what he said to earn his second personal foul, but did he have additional motivation a week after the disqualification?
“Nah … you get what you get. You get the hand you were dealt,” Gardner-Johnson said. “I think it was a learning lesson. I got to grow the hell up because this team obviously needs me when I’m here. I ain’t saying like in a way as though I’m a superstar. My presence is being out there with the guys and having fun.
“It hurt me not being out there and see them losing. We could have clinched the week before. But had to step up and look myself in the mirror, understand this is a team game, not a me game.”
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But Gardner-Johnson’s individual moment on Dallas’ opening drive stood as the Eagles’ only points through the first quarter and a half as their offense struggled on the first two possessions. And his second interception, which came just before the half, set up another touchdown as the Eagles took a 24-7 lead into the break.
For all the conversation about Gardner-Johnson’s toeing the line between playing with an edge and drawing unnecessary penalties, what he brings to the defense in terms of his play can get overlooked. The big hits are important. And so is his swagger.
But turnovers are game changers and Gardner-Johnson’s picks gave him a team-high six interceptions — two ahead of fellow safety Reed Blankenship. Two years ago, he had the same amount in just 12 games for the Eagles. Many defensive backs can get their hands on the ball, but few can finish with regularity.
“That’s a special talent that he has,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said of Gardner-Johnson. “Thinking about when he had the interception last week, where it was low on the ground, he had to double catch it to catch it, but he still finds a way to do it.”
While some of Gardner-Johnson’s interceptions could be deemed fortunate — or being in the right place at the right time — you often make your own luck as a defensive back.
His first pick came after Dallas had driven into Eagles territory on its opening series. Quarterback Cooper Rush eyed receiver Brandin Cooks against slot cornerback Cooper DeJean on an in-breaking route. But he didn’t account for Gardner-Johnson, who sat in a zone as the “Robber.”
“Recognizing formations and understanding splits,” Gardner-Johnson said when asked to explain what led to his positioning.
As for his 69-yard return, which resulted in his first career touchdown, he said reaching the end zone first popped into his head “as soon as I put my hands on that ... .”
Gardner-Johnson’s second interception wasn’t as dramatic. Rush heaved a deep ball up for grabs that was well beyond his intended target. But Gardner-Johnson still had to contend with teammate Quinyon Mitchell, who also had a bead on the ball.
“I apologized to my boy,” Gardner-Johnson said.
Mitchell still doesn’t have his first career interception. The rookie might have had his first one months ago had he and Gardner-Johnson not collided vying for a duck from Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Mitchell was upset then. Not now.
“I’m happy somebody caught it,” Mitchell said. “It wasn’t like Cleveland when we both went up for it and nobody caught it.”
The Eagles will take turnovers any way they can get them. They had four total on Sunday — inside linebacker Oren Burks, who was filling in for the injured Nakobe Dean, forced a fumble and outside linebacker Nolan Smith caused another.
Vic Fangio’s defense has gotten 23 turnovers in the last 10 games after having only two in the first six. All told, the Eagles have seven more than they had all of last season. But it’s the turnaround in takeaway/giveaway plus-minus — from minus-10 in 2023 to plus-10 in 2024 — that may best explain this season’s success.
And bringing back Gardner-Johnson, after he left for the Lions via free agency following contentious contract negotiations with the Eagles, was to help address the lack of turnovers a year ago.
But it was to also inject some juice in not only the defense but also the team. Gardner-Johnson’s brashness extends toward his teammates in practice. There are some who may not like his trash-talking ways, but Sirianni is a kindred spirit. He once said Gardner-Johnson was the Eagles player most like him when he played.
The problem with having so much emotion — as the coach knows only so well — is that it can get you in hot water. And it can tarnish your reputation. In the annual players poll conducted by The Athletic earlier this season, Gardner-Johnson was overwhelmingly voted “Most Annoying.”
That can be viewed favorably, although when he was asked about the dubious honor, Gardner-Johnson responded with a “Next question.” But the bigger problem with notoriety is when officials start paying attention. (And the league office: He has been fined more than $100,000 for various infractions this season.)
“We all human. We all get emotional. We all have emotional times,” defensive tackle Jordan Davis said. “We just understand there’s a time and place to do it. [Gardner-Johnson] understood that. He apologized for it after the game. … He definitely made up for it this week.”
He did with the interceptions and his coverage, before limping off with an injury early in the fourth quarter. (Gardner-Johnson intimated that he was fine after the game.) But he also kept his mouth shut.
“There was nothing to talk about today,” Gardner-Johnson said.
And why was that?
“Guys know who I am,” he answered. “The respect I got in this league is minimum, but my play speaks maximum volume.”
Sirianni saw more than just a muted Gardner-Johnson, though.
“I actually saw him breaking up a couple things out there today of some interactions between players,” Sirianni said. “He’s a special dude. My two years with Chauncey, I just think he’s special. I think he’s a special guy that loves this game of football, loves his teammates, loves the people in the building.
“I saw him giving presents to the entire cafeteria staff this week.”
When someone needed to step in for quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was out with a concussion, and break the team down after warmups and after the game in the locker room, it was Gardner-Johnson who spoke up.
“I just did that because I like to win, and if nobody else is going to do it, I’m going to do it,” Gardner-Johnson said. “Because I like to win. If it motivated you, it motivated you. If it didn’t, it didn’t, but I’m here to win.
“I’m here to help my teammates understand we lead by action.”
Words matter, too. “NFC East Division Champions” has a nice ring to it. Gardner-Johnson was captured with a big grin donning a cap with that label before switching to the ski mask later on. But he’s done that before.
“I’m not trying to win the division,” he said. “I’m trying to win the Super Bowl.”