The Eagles' Good, Bad & Ugly: Eagles 39 Saints 17
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — There were a lot of things to like, some to dislike and not a lot to take from the Eagles' 39-17 victory over the woeful New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Good
Defensive end Fletcher Cox had a career game with three sacks, forced two fumbles that led to 10 points and recovered a fumble.
Receiver Josh Huff had a career game, too, with four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. His 40-yard kickoff return opened the game and his 19-yard reception set up a Ryan Mathews' 2-yard score in the third quarter.
Quarterback Sam Bradford completed 32 for 45 for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions in the end zone, but responded well after making the mistakes. The last time Bradford threw for over 300 yards came when he played for St. Louis in a 31-24 loss to Atlanta on Sept. 15, 2013, when he threw for 352 yards, 3 TDs and an interception.
Running back DeMarco Murray had his best game as an Eagle, rushing for a game-high 83 yards and scoring a touchdown.
Running back Ryan Mathews continues to look better than Murray. He toted the ball 8 times for 73 yards, averaging 9.1 yards a carry.
Nose tackle Bennie Logan continues to also play at an all-pro level. He had five tackles and one sack and collapsed the pocket in Drew Brees' lap all afternoon.
Special team's demon Chris Maragos had a great hit on Marcus Murphy on the ensuing kickoff after the Josh Huff second-quarter TD.
Safety Walter Thurman's fourth-quarter interception and 44-yard return was an exclamation point to the Eagles' finest performance this year.
The Bad
Cornerback Byron Maxwell continues to prove how pedestrian he is.
Kicker Caleb Sturgis missed extra point after the Brent Celek 13-yard touchdown reception with 6:31 left in the third quarter put the Eagles up 23-10.
The Ugly
Linebacker Jordan Hicks should have been on Ben Watson on the Saints' first score. Drew Brees saw Watson uncovered, as Hicks came over late, and hit him as Hicks came running over too late. It resulted in a 6-yard New Orleans TD. Hicks made up for it later, recovering a fumble in his third-straight game.
Receiver Nelson Agholor ran a pick play near the goal line that resulted in a 10-yard penalty. Two plays later Bradford threw his second interception in the end zone, picked by the Saints' Devin Breaux.
The drops—again. If Riley Cooper hangs on to the slant that Bradford threw in the waning seconds of the first half maybe the Eagles go into intermission up 14-7 instead of 10-7.