Top 5 Eagles' Players, So Far
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- With six weeks in the books, the Eagles head into their week seven bye 5-1 and feeling good.
With two impressive wins at the Colts and vs. the Giants, two shaky wins against the below-average Jaguars and Rams, a win they fought for (literally) against DeSean Jackson and the Redskins, and a tough nail-biting loss at the 49ers, we've seen it all.
Who is the Eagles' most valuable player through the first six games?
5. Nick Foles
Foles has been streaky, to be polite, early on. He is tied for the second most interceptions in the NFL with seven, never mind his three fumbles. His 59.5 completion percentage ranks 28th in the NFL. However, he is fifth in the league with 1,628 yards passing and despite occasional errant throws and mind-boggling decisions, Foles it the quarterback and leader of a 5-1 team that is second in the NFL averaging 30.5 points per game. So, he sneaks on the list.
4. Jeremy Maclin
Maclin is quietly having a career year. 27 catches, for 445 yards, and four touchdowns through six games. That's about a 16-game pace of 72/1,186/10. Plus, the Eagles wide receiving corps really needed J-Mac, who missed the entire 2013 after tearing his ACL. With Riley Cooper and Jordan Matthews inconsistent and unproven respectively, Maclin needed to lead this group and he has.
And boy, has he made some HUGE catches (see: vs. Washington, at San Fran).
3. Malcolm Jenkins
The Eagles targeted and signed Jenkins, the former New Orleans Saints safety, this offseason despite criticism and they were dead right. Jenkins already has a career high three interceptions, which came in back-to-back-to-back games earlier this season. Jenkins scored on his INT against the 49ers and picked off Andrew Luck in Indianapolis, which lead to an impressive Eagles comeback win.
With Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher struggling on the outside in the secondary, Jenkins has been a savior for Billy Davis and this Eagles defense early on.
2. Darren Sproles
Talk about a game-changing play maker. It all started in week one, when Sproles began an Eagles comeback with a crucial 49-yard touchdown run. Then, in week two, Sproles caught seven balls for 152 yards and rushed for another 26 yards, including a huge touchdown run to help the Eagles beat the Colts.
And I'm just getting to his punt return capabilities. Sproles is one of, if not the, NFL's most dangerous return man. He took one to the house against the 49ers, and was a shoe-string tackle away from two or three more. He's electric to watch and horrifying to defend.
Now nursing a sprained MCL that will likely cause him to miss a game or two, the Eagles desperately need the speedy Sproles healthy.
1. Connor Barwin
Six sacks---three in each of the last two games---two pass deflections, and a forced fumble in six games.
Barwin has been all over the place and is causing opposing quarterbacks and defensive lineman fits these days. While the Eagles secondary has been suspect early on, the pass rush has been elite, and their 19 team sacks is tied for second in the NFL. Barwin is pacing this over-achieving pass rush and looks like a sure-fire Pro Bowl linebacker.
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