McCoy breaks out of rushing slump

GREEN BAY, Wis. - LeSean McCoy said on Thursday that he couldn't complain about a recent decline in rushing production because he was still leading the league, although that distinction was lost when Washington's Alfred Morris and Minnesota's Adrian Peterson surpassed him on Thursday night.

McCoy returned to the top of the NFL's rushing list on Sunday afternoon, when he ran for 155 yards in a 27-13 win over the Green Bay Packers. McCoy now has 932 yards through 10 games, already eclipsing his 2012 total.

"Today I had more lanes and a lot more one-on-one opportunities," McCoy said. "I was to the second level so fast today. I was just hitting it. Guys up front got it done in a big way."

His 25 carries were the most he's had since an Oct. 13 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was also his last 100-yard effort. McCoy had totaled just 147 yards in the previous three games and rushed for 3.3 yards per carry during that span. On Sunday, he rushed for 6.2 yards per carry - his highest average since Sept. 19.

"We had so many one-on-one battles," McCoy said. "It felt good to say that again."

McCoy's implication was that those had faded in recent weeks when the passing game struggled. Defenses had stacked the box and dared the Eagles to pass the ball, which meant McCoy's rushing lanes were often barricaded. After Nick Foles threw for seven touchdowns last week against the Oakland Raiders, Green Bay needed to worry about the passing game.

"There were still a majority of the time a lot more guys in the box, but I think it was a guessing game, which we haven't seen lately," McCoy said.

McCoy appeared especially elusive. He said when the Eagles backs get one-on-one matchups against defensive ends, linebackers, or safeties, they can make the defenders miss.

Coach Chip Kelly insisted there was no deliberate effort to get McCoy more involved Sunday, and that the objective is a balanced offense. McCoy said the Eagles did not require balance in the Raiders game because Foles was passing so well, but the benefits were on display Sunday.

"He did a great job in open field, great job in small windows," Foles said. "We have to continue doing that and that'll open everything we do."

The running game did not suffer after Jason Peters exited with a quadriceps injury. Backup Allen Barbre helped the offense to continue functioning. McCoy praised the offensive line for controlling the line of scrimmage.

McCoy's rushing was needed when the Eagles chipped away the final 9 minutes and 32 seconds. He rushed eight times for 41 yards on that drive, keeping the Packers from reclaiming possession and building his league-high rushing total.

"Just dominating," McCoy said. "It's a good feeling."