Paul Domowitch’s Eagles-Saints report card
Here is Domo's report card for the Eagles-Saints game. Click here to send in your own grades.
RUSHING OFFENSE
The Eagles' offensive line turned in its best performance, helping running backs DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles rush for 183 yards. If Murray had hit even half the lanes he missed, that rushing number might've been twice that much.
GRADE: A-minus
PASSING OFFENSE
Sam Bradford had a shaky first half. He had a pair of disheartening red-zone interceptions and too many of his passes were behind receivers. But he went to shorter throws in the second half and completed 13 of 15 passes, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. TEs Zach Ertz and Brent Celek combined for eight catches, 104 yards and a TD (Celek).
GRADE: C-plus
RUN DEFENSE
The Eagles gave up 29 rushing yards to the Saints on their first four carries, but tightened up after that, holding them to 57 yards on their next 16 carries before Khary Robinson's meaningless 10-yard run with two minutes left in the game.
GRADE: B
PASS DEFENSE
The Eagles, who came into the game with just six sacks, dropped Drew Brees five times, including three by Fletcher Cox, who also forced fumbles on two of them that led to scores. Walter Thurmond had an interception that set up a touchdown. The downside: The Eagles gave up a season-high seven pass plays of 20 or more yards, including 59- and 46-yard completions.
GRADE: B-plus
SPECIAL TEAMS
Caleb Sturgis made all four of his field goals, but missed a PAT for the second straight week. Five of his nine kickoffs went for touchbacks. The Saints averaged just 21.3 yards per return on the other four. Josh Huff had a game-opening, 40-yard kickoff return.
GRADE: B
OVERALL
With their tackles playing through injuries, the offensive line turned in its best performance of the season, protecting Sam Bradford and opening holes for the running backs. Bradford overcame a pair of first-half red-zone interceptions to complete 13 of 15 second-half passes. The defense sacked Drew Brees five times and forced four turnovers.
GRADE: B-plus