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Knee-Jerk Reactions: Eagles Save Season With Blowout Win

By Andrew Porter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Phew!

It was a swing game---a season breaker or a season maker.

Thankfully, for Philadelphia, it wasn't the former.

RECAP: Eagles Find New Life In 39-17 Victory Over Saints

 

Sam Bradford had his best game as an Eagle, and not because the numbers' said so.
• "But he threw two awful interceptions in the end zone," you say.
• I know, I know. And those were bad and costly, but Bradford rebounded beautifully. His throws were accurate, his decisions were precise, he looked comfortable, and the offense hummed. It went fast again and they ran a ton of plays (79, to be exact).
• Bradford finished the game 32-45, with 333 yards, 2 TD's, and 2 INT's.
• In the second half of games this season, Bradford has completed 66 of 94 passes (70.2%) for 753 yards and six touchdowns (102.0 QB rating).
• As a team, the Birds had 519 yards of offense and punted just once!
• The ground game got going too, as all thee backs contributed and looked well in their niche roles.
• A lot more two-tight end sets and under-center handoffs, as Chip clearly made some crucial adjustments that worked.
• Oh, and Josh Huff woke up!
• The most encouraging and exciting part about today was that they did all this and still left meat on the bone! We certainly did not see the best of this team.
Jordan Matthews had the worst game of his NFL career. A few brutal drops.
• "But they played the Saints and the Saints stink," you say.
• It's the NFL. The Saints have a talented roster and they're not that bad. The Eagles spanked them.

 

• Defensively, it was more of the same.
• Four forced turnovers and just 17 points allowed vs. Drew Brees and the Saints (and seven came in garbage time on the final play of the game).
Jordan Hicks was excellent again. He recovered his third fumble in four games, had four tackles, and pass breakup.
• Another INT for Walter Thurmond, who now has three in five games.
Malcolm Jenkins continued to be his sure-tackling, dominant self.
Byron Maxwell played very well. He was beat once or twice, but did more good than bad.
• The front dominated the line of scrimmage per usual.
• And then there was Fletcher Cox.
• Cox had three of the Eagles' five sacks, led the team in tackles with six (one for a loss), had two forced fumbles, and recovered one of them…not to mention his stellar play against the run.
• Cox became the first Eagle with three sacks and two forced fumbles in the same game since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
• The Saints were 8-16 on third down. 3rd-and-longs continue to haunt the Birds.

 

• And Caleb Sturgis connected on all four field goal attempts. Missed an extra point, but not bad right?
• I can't help myself: Nick Foles was 11-30, 141 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT's, took three sacks, and fumbled once (although he recovered) in a 24-10 loss.

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