The Eagles' Good, Bad & Ugly vs. Dolphins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There were scant things to like, a lot to dislike and much to wonder about when it comes to the future of this team after a 20-19 setback to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Good
Quarterback Sam Bradford, yes, believe it or not. He completed 19 of 25 for 236 yards and a touchdown, though was sacked four times for minus-39 yards. Still, if Bradford was on the field in the final quarter the Eagles may not be looking up at 4-5. He moved in the pocket well, and finally got some help by receivers who didn't drop the ball.
Tight end Brent Celek had his best game since he caught five passes for 116 yards in the Eagles' 45-21 win over Carolina on Nov. 10, 2014. Celek caught four passes for 134 yards—three for 120 in the first half, averaging 40 yards a catch, including a 60-yard reception on the Eagles' first drive. He wasn't targeted again until the fourth quarter, when Mark Sanchez hit him for a 14-yard completion.
Safety Walter Thurman's second quarter sack of Dolphins' quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the first Eagles' safety since Dec. 22, 2013 vs. Chicago Bears (a 56-11 Eagles' victory and the third-straight game the Miami gave up a safety).
Tackle Dennis Kelly had two vital fumble recoveries.
The Bad
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks' opening series. He was beaten twice on third-down conversions, one a third-and-11 at the Miami 31. Tannehill hit Lamar Miller for a 35-yard gain. Later in that drive Kendricks jumped offsides. Miami got a 42-yard Andrew Franks' field goal.
The Ugly
Coach Chip Kelly's decisions have led to a team below .500 past the halfway point of the season.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez' fourth-quarter interception in the end zone by Reshad Jones, when the Eagles could have used a field goal to take a late lead.
Center Jason Kelce had a false start and was called for a holding penalty that forced a premature end to an Eagles' drive with 7:23 left in the second quarter.
Receiver Riley Cooper was called for an illegal shift when Miami had 12 players on the field wiping out a Mark Sanchez-to-Zach Ertz 22-yard touchdown pass.
Tailback DeMarco Murray's drop with just over a minute left.
Sanchez was wretched when it counted most. He finished 14 for 23 for 156 yards and a costly interception that could cost the Eagles their postseason hopes. But he couldn't budge the Birds into field-goal range in the last quarter.
