Ryan Mathews helped spark the Philadelphia Eagles to their first victory of the season on Sunday afternoon. (Getty)
Final
Philadelphia Eagles 3-21-0-0 — 24
New York Jets 0-7-0-10 — 17
The Philadelphia Eagles offense finally looked like the Philadelphia Eagles offense on Sunday afternoon. At least in the first 30 minutes of the game. In the final 30 minutes, the Eagles defense took center stage, shutting down the New York Jets comeback efforts to notch their first victory of the season.
Philadelphia picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick three times, including twice in the second half, to stave off any kind of late-game rally. Fitzpatrick threw the ball an almost ridiculous 58 times, completing 35 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Gang Green’s run game, which had been huge early this year, very clearly missed Chris Ivory, racking up just 47 yards on the ground.
On the Eagles side of things, Ryan Mathews sparked the rushing game with 108 yards on 25 carries while Darren Sproles was a beast from every angle, racking up a rushing touchdown as well as a punt return for 89 yards and another score. Sam Bradford threw for 188 yards and one touchdown.
For the first time this season, the Jets defense, which had been riding a serious hype train after the first two weeks, failed to impose its will on Philadelphia and, in the end, that was a big difference for New York.
Click here to see a full box score of the game and read on to see some of the best highlights of the matchup:
Jeremy Kerley Cut Into the Eagles Lead With a Fourth Quarter TD
The Jets continued to chip into Philadelphia’s lead with a down-the-field drive in the fourth quarter, capped off by a Jeremy Kerley touchdown possession.
It’s difficult to say that a drive that ends in the end zone had a downside, but this one might have. Sure, Kerley caught a touchdown pass, but the New York drive took nearly eight minutes. That’s not idea when you’re trying to stage a fourth quarter comeback.
The Jets defense held its own on the ensuing drive as well, forcing the first Eagles turnover of the afternoon:
Jets get a takeaway. Harris causes the fumble from Ryan Matthrews, #nyj
Brandon Marshall Broke the 10,000 YD Receiving Mark
10,000 career receiving yds for @BMarshall.
Congrats, 15. http://t.co/gzuAFWzyua
So, that’s pretty good.
Marshall, who had an up-and-down performance on Sunday afternoon, found a way to make history anyway, breaking the 10,000-yard career receiving mark. Through three quarters, Marshall had seven catches for 73 yards and one touchdown.
The Eagles Led the Jets 24 – 7 at Halftime
Philadelphia Eagles RB Darren Sproles was a big part of his team’s offense performance in the first two quarters. (Getty)
Nice to see you again, Philadelphia Eagles offense.
After two disappointing performances early this season, the Eagles offense, finally, started to find a rhythm. Philadelphia jumped out to a 24-point lead on the Jets in the first half before the Jets got on the board with a Brandon Marshall touchdown.
Sam Bradford was just 10-for-20 but racked up 93 yards passing and the Eagles ground game looked dominant – without DeMarco Murray. Ryan Mathews rushed for 67 yards and hauled in a receiving touchdown while Darren Sproles rushed for 20 yards, ran for a touchdown and returned a punt to the end zone.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 126 yards and one touchdown but the Jets defense, which had forced double digit turnovers in the first two games, could not find a way to slow down the Eagles.
Brandon Marshall Put the Jets on the Board Late in the First Half
More often than not, if you give Brandon Marshall a few inches, he will make a defense pay for it.
That’s exactly what the Jets wide receiver did in the waning seconds of the first half, getting New York on the board with a 16-yard touchdown pass. Gang Green needed that badly, particularly after Marshall notched an atrocious turnover earlier in the quarter.
The Eagles Offense Kept Pouring it on Throughout the Second Quarter
Ryan Mathews caught that one — a wheel route and Sam Bradford hits him for a 22-yard TD. #Eagles 17, Jets 0.
Philadelphia’s offense, finally, has started to look like Philadelphia’s offense. Sam Bradford found Mathews for a 23-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter as the Eagles continued to dismantle New York’s previously vaunted defense.
#Eagles lead 17-0 w/ 4:57 to go in first half.
Scoring drive: 8 plays, 75yds, 3:19. (23-yard TD pass from Bradford to R. Mathews)
Through that scoring drive, Sam Bradford was 8-of-17 for 89 yards, while Mathews had racked up 74 all-purpose yards.
Then, on the ensuing possession Darren Sproles found his way into the end zone, this time on a set offensive play, to add to the Eagles impressive cushion.
Darren Sproles Zig’ed & Zag’ed His Way for a Punt Return Touchdown
That is one of the best punt returns I’ve ever seen. Darren Sproles is special. #Eagles 10, Jets 0.
Hey, here’s some breaking news. Darren Sproles is fast. Like, really, really fast.
The Philadelphia Eagles running back, who has built a career on his ability to dodge defenders on special teams, added to his own legacy with an impressive 89-yard punt return straight to the end zone, padding the squad’s lead early in the second quarter.
Seriously, look at these moves:
Sproles’ run was the eighth special teams touchdown for the Eagles since the start of last season.
The Eagles Notched a First Quarter Field Goal
It wasn’t a particularly memorable start for either side, but after the first 15 minutes of play, Philadelphia led 3-0 thanks to a 30-yard Cody Parker field goal.
The Eagles run game (surprisingly) looked good early as Ryan Mathews ran five times for 42 yards, taking over the majority of carries after DeMarco Murray was ruled out pre-game.
Still, the Jets offense didn’t look bad. Ryan Fitzpatrick finished the first 8-of-9 for 30 yards. The squad did clearly miss Chris Ivory, however, with just five rushing yards in the first quarter.
Game Preview
The Philadelphia Eagles have plenty to worry about.
The squad, whose fast-paced offense in the preseason set all kinds of expectations, has failed to find a rhythm in the first two games. Then, there was the news that DeMaco Murray may be hindered in week three with a hamstring injury.
What else could go wrong? The Eagles could lose to the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon.
Philadelphia simply cannot afford a third loss. At 0-3 the road to the postseason is long and nearly-impossible, even in the anything-can-happen NFC East.
The Eagles need to win. The Eagles need both of their lines to step up. Philadelphia’s offensive line has looked almost non-existent in the first two games of the season and while they’ve been able to, mostly, protect Sam Bradford, the run game has been a complete non-factor. The guys in the trenches will face a stout challenge on Sunday against a New York front seven that has already helped force double digit turnovers.
The defensive line needs to perform well also, although that will be easier said than done for a group that is seriously banged up by injury. Defensive end Cedric Thornton isn’t expected to play and backup Taylor Hart is questionable. Add into the mix injuries to linebackers Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks and the Eagles are facing an up-hill defensive battle.
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Eagles vs. Jets: Score, Stats & Highlights