What I saw: Eagles vs. Jets
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What I saw: Eagles vs. Jets
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's what I saw during the Eagles' 45-19 win over the Jets at the Linc Sunday afternoon.
Oh, and if you're wondering about what needs to happen for the Eagles to win the NFC East, click here.
OFFENSE
* After struggling last week against the Dolphins, Michael Vick bounced back with a strong performance, completing 15-of-22 passes for 274 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also ran five times for 32 yards and a score. It was Vick's first rushing touchdown of the season.
* Brent Celek had the Eagles' first offensive touchdown with a great 26-yard catch that he tipped to himself in the first quarter. Earlier in the first, he had a 38-yard catch and run. Then in the third quarter, Celek had a 73-yard catch and run to set up a touchdown. He finished with five catches on six targets for a career-high 156 yards.
* LeSean McCoy finished with 102 yards on 18 carries, including three touchdowns. He now holds the franchise records for rushing TDs in a season (17) and total TDs (20). McCoy lost his first fumble of the season in the second quarter, setting up a Jets field goal. Entering this week, McCoy was the only running back among the league's top-10 rushers who had not lost a fumble.
* McCoy, Dion Lewis and Ronnie Brown all carried the ball on the Eagles' first scoring drive. Lewis, who has been unimpressive as a return man this season, fumbled on a kickoff return in the second quarter. It was the Eagles' second special-teams turnover. Curtis Marsh also touched a punt in the first half, and the Jets recovered. Eagles special teams gave up a big kickoff return to start the second half, which gave the Jets the ball at their own 42. Not a good showing by Bobby April's group.
* DeSean Jackson's 16-yard catch against Darrelle Revis got the Eagles in the red zone in the second and set up Vick's 11-yard touchdown run, which gave the Eagles a 21-0 lead. Jackson also chased down the Jets defender on after McCoy's fumble. He finished with two catches for 28 yards and left the game temporarily with an elbow injury before returning.
* The offensive line, which played perhaps its worst game of the season last week against the Dolphins, rebounded well, providing Vick with good protection and doing a good job in the run game as well.
DEFENSE
* The Eagles' defense forced four turnovers, and the Jets were 1-for-4 in the red zone. Entering the game, the Jets were the top red-zone offense in the league, and the Eagles' defense was 30th. This was the Eagles' second good defensive performance in a row. They held the Dolphins to 10 points last week.
* Kurt Coleman put a nice hit on Santonio Holmes, forcing a fumble, which Juqua Parker recovered and returned 47 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Parker lined up at defensive tackle with the second group because Trevor Laws was inactive. Brandon Graham played left defensive end, and Philip Hunt was at right defensive end. Darryl Tapp was also inactive. Hunt had a sack in the second quarter.
* Jason Babin blew right by the right tackle for his 16th sack of the season in the first quarter. Later in the first, Babin lined up like a blitzing linebacker and picked up another sack. Mike Patterson and Cullen Jenkins lined up at defensive end on the third-down play, which forced a Jets punt. We saw the Eagles use this formation last week as well. Babin added a third sack in the third, giving him 18 on the season.
* Casey Matthews did a good job, dropping LaDainian Tomlinson for a 4-yard loss after a completion in the first. He later brought Tomlinson down short of the first-down marker, forcing the Jets to settle for a field goal late in the first half. Overall, it looked like the linebackers played much better. Jamar Chaney had an interception. And Keenan Clayton made a nice play to break up a third-down pass in the second quarter, forcing the Jets to settle for a field goal.
* Joselio Hanson played more in the nickel in place of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for much of the first half, just like last week. When Asante Samuel left the game late in the second quarter, Rodgers-Cromartie replaced him at left cornerback. Rodgers-Cromartie made a great break on the ball in the third. The ball popped up in the air, and Chaney came away with the interception.
* Samuel was called for pass interference in the first. He was lined up in the slot to the right side on the play. Nnamdi Asomugha was called for pass interference, trying to defend Plaxico Burress in the second. He also got beat by Burress, who made a great catch, on a 9-yard touchdown in the third.
* Mark Sanchez's pass went right through Holmes' hands in the red zone in the first half, and Samuel came away with the interception.
* Holmes got open against Brian Rolle for a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman were nearby too, but neither safety made a play.
* On 3rd-and-2 in the second, Sanchez was looking to hand the ball off, but the running back wasn't expecting it. Sanchez dove for the first-down marker, but Patterson forced a fumble, and the Eagles recovered, taking over at the New York 17.
* Trent Cole dropped back in coverage and got beat by Dustin Keller for a 41-yard gain in the second. The Eagles haven't run a lot of zone blitzes this season, but they got burned on this one.
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It would be great if at the end of a season reporters could sit down with the coach and let the coach dissect a few wins and losses and teach the fans what the game of football is all about. When I read these Philly post I am convinced these fans don't know the game.— Ron- I agree with ceocreates and HarryCaul, who agrees with blaqjaq. Birds are coming together, too late - but we'll see.
Go Jets.
And Nnamdi is a disappointment so far.— Richard Saunders - good home win jets are playoff contenders so we beat a quality team the o-line needs some consistency or a few tweaks some talent at the linebacker spots and full offseason and the team will be back on track next year : ( ..................not gettn my playoff hopes up— positive eagle
- Would you fire Reid after this season and most likely not have a CHANCE to win another Super Bowl for a few years --- ie, dismantle everything so well established in Philly -- or go with him again next year and definitely have a great chance to win it?— Leegles
- A lot (not all!) Philadelphia fans don't deserve to have sports teams. The fans are unrealistic and reactionary. They expect a parade every year and freak out like drunken spoiled children when things don't go their way. And when they win -- see: Phils 2008 -- they strut around with CHAMPS sweatshirts all the time like they did something special. For a segment of Philly fandom, self-worth is too tightly tied to the teams. They have no long-view, no patience, all the sort of negative traits -- including that mythic PASSION -- that negatively characterize modern Americans. LOOK: NO TEAMS WIN IT EVERY YEAR. THE EAGLES WILL WIN IT SOON. BELIEVE IT. ROOT FOR THE FREAKIN HOME TEAM LIKE YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE SEVEN!— Leegles
- We'd settle for A parade, you jock-sniffing dolt. Winning in routs but losing close ones is not a mark of a championship team. Underachievement should be booed. They are big boys, they can handle it. — 2ndNlong
Where is Hindsight?— tpizza- Please put me in the "hater" section as well.— Jeffritoe
- Last week with a late lead against the Dolphins, Reid tried to run out the clock by running the ball. This lead to 6 punts on 7 possessions. People complained about that. This week with a late lead, Reid mixes up the runs and passes and gets first downs to run out the clock faster. People are STILL complaining!!!?— december77
- Great game by Shady, Celek and Babin. Vick did a better job of hanging in the pocket. DJax showed great effort in chasing down the Jets defender after Shady fumbled. A disinterested DJax wouldn't have done that. Especially since he banged up his elbow on the play. Staying healthy was his #1 priority, right?— december77
- Well lonewolf still has not packed his trailer and left town, I am sure the rest of the haters will crawl from under their rock soon as the library opens Monday/ Good game Eagles, let the haters keep talking they are non-factors anyway.— Blessed8251
- This was Andy's plan all along !!Let them get overconfident,then sneak up on 'em.Indeed,some of the Jets were heard to have said:
"Man,they was sneee--kin Big Time ! !
When we sneak into the playoffs.........who'd of thunk it ? ?
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Nnamdi will come around.He's talented,smart and doesn't like the negative press.If not this year then next year— Ernie Garman - I am with u Ziggy... I am still unhappy with how this team has played most of this season, but it is starting to appear that they may have begun to figure things out Coaches and Players... Still a very unlikely scinerio to make it to the playoffs, it might be too little too late... U just gotta believe... The HATERS are shaking in their undies hahahaha... Remember the Packers last year... We are still in this thing. Go Eagles.— trinieagle
- Agreed w/ blaqjaq, I'd rather have Sheldon Brown than how Nnamdi looks-he gets beat for a touchdown or has a PI every game. Looks like an average cornerback-what's the deal, has he just had the whole league duped?— HarryCaul
- I looking forward to a, "they tried to write us off, they said we were finished", end of season speech from Vick and the team. Its left to be seen if it might not or might happen but I hope— realtruth
- Pleased with the win, but what is the deal with the 60 million dollar cornerback? He sucks— blaqjaq
- If you can not see from this game Andy Reids flaws you do not want to see the obvious. We were up 30 points the whole second half and they are still passing the ball. First you are subjecting Michael Vick to take hits for no reason. Second you keep stopping the clock with every incomplete pass and third you have a back that can have a career day when he is averaging 5.7 yards a carry. This is why we have had so many late game collapses. Andy Reid and his clone Marty do not know how to play with a lead, protect your quarterback and keep a small defense off the field. Lucky the Jets suck.— frankxburke
- the crazy off season new coaches, and new players were stacked against any team...just so happened the birds fit that mold. If they squeak in...they will be dangerous...— ziggy
- here it comes- the eagles will win out and the defense will continue to dominate but the eagles will miss the playoffs. reid and castillo will will both be back.— bloodymess
- PLEASE--lose and get Reid out of here or even win but still get Reid and all his arrogance out of here. Overall, they just aren't good enough consistently to win the big one anyway. I never thought I would disdain anyone as much as I did, Buddy but Reid is closing fast.— jlkndy
- Nice game by the Eagles, but a classic case of too little, too late.— SteveS11
- Lonewolf the Eagles had lots of injuries and are just getting to know each other. I am not happy with this year, no one should be...but I am excited about next season with AR as the coach. And even though you want it to be...this season isn't over yet.— ceocreates
- Undoubtedly, Lurie is well pleased with his off-season investments. 6-8 is great!— Lonewolf11
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