Panthers vs. Eagles: Full Report Card Grades for Philadelphia
To say the Philadelphia Eagles dominated this game from every facet would be an understatement.
The defense harassed and battered Cam Newton relentlessly, forcing three interceptions and recording an absurd nine sacks en route to a 45-21 victory. The Eagles added to their record-setting scoring pace via defensive and special teams touchdowns, and the offense rolled up 365 yards in just 21 minutes, 55 seconds of possession.
Per Pro Football Reference, the Eagles became the first team in NFL history to record nine sacks, two return touchdowns and a plus-five turnover differential in the same game. That’s a complete team effort by Chip Kelly’s squad.
It was the ninth straight win at Lincoln Financial Field for this team. And it was just what the Eagles needed in the first start under quarterback Mark Sanchez.
"Eagles: 1st team to score at least 45 pts in QBs 1st start with team since 1994 Colts did so with Jim Harbaugh vs Oilers (via @eliassports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 11, 2014"
"Eagles: 14-3 in last 17 regular-season games (tied with Cardinals for NFL's best record over that span)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 11, 2014
"
Next week will be a big test for the Eagles. They get a Green Bay Packers team that just saw Aaron Rodgers light up the Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia will need to bring the pressure that the front seven brought Monday night.
For now, the Eagles can enjoy their tremendous win. Full game grades are on the following slides, broken down by each positional group.
Quarterback
1 of 8
How good was Mark Sanchez? The sample size is admittedly small, but dare I suggest that he may be the most athletic quarterback on this Eagles roster? If he continues to play like he did, there’s no way Nick Foles will get his job back, even if he returns this regular season.
"Have to feel good for Mark Sanchez. Endured an unbelievable amount of scrutiny/garbage in NY. #secondchance
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 11, 2014"
Sanchez shook off a slow start to turn in one of his finest games as a pro. On a national spotlight, he picked apart the Carolina Panthers, a team that went 12-4 a year ago. He completed 20 of his 37 passes for 332 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
"Mark Sanchez in 1st start in 23 months throws for 332 yards - 4th most in his career #6abcEagles pic.twitter.com/OtkJVICZWq
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) November 11, 2014"
It was the first time in his career Sanchez threw for at least 300 yards without tossing an interception. He became just the fifth different quarterback in Eagles history to throw the ball at least 35 times for 300 yards, at least 9.0 yards per attempt and no interceptions.
Sanchez showed great chemistry with rookie receiver Jordan Matthews—clearly a result of their time working together on the second-team unit in preseason. It started with a frozen rope that Sanchez threw to Matthews on a 3rd-and-14 with the Eagles backed up deep in their own territory. In all, Sanchez found Matthews seven times for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Sanchez just missed a third touchdown, hitting tight end Brent Celek on a beautifully thrown 30-yard fly pattern, but Celek was taken down at the 1-yard line. Sanchez was sacked just once, and he showed underrated athleticism in moving around in the pocket. On one play, he sidestepped a blitzing Luke Kuechly through the A-gap and hit Celek downfield for a first down to move the chains.
Sanchez spread the ball around well. He connected with four different wide receivers, two running backs and two tight ends; eight different players on the offense caught passes from him. Even more impressive was the fact that Sanchez did all this without getting any help from the running game; the Eagles picked up just 37 ground yards on 20 carries, averaging a paltry 1.85 yards per carry.
"So much for Eagles leaning on run game with Sanchez. 26 pass plays and 10 called runs so far.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) November 11, 2014"
The Eagles offense really seems to be just a plug-and-play, and this team may, in fact, be fine with Sanchez at quarterback down the stretch. Perhaps this tweet best encompasses the passing of the torch from Foles to Sanchez.
"So far, so good... #Eagles http://t.co/q3tleLxMK4 pic.twitter.com/8R7o2Pmvy4
— Rob Tornoe (@RobTornoe) November 11, 2014"
Grade: A
Running Backs
2 of 8
It was a quiet and, in fact, extremely disappointing game from All-Pro back LeSean McCoy. With the sample size getting larger, it’s becoming apparent that he is not the same player who dominated the league in 2013.
McCoy ran for just 19 yards on 12 carries. He had a one-yard touchdown run, which marked his first score since Week 2.
"LeSean McCoy had gone 134 consecutive carries without scoring a TD ...
— Bob Vetrone Jr. (@BoopStats) November 11, 2014"
Still, it was a letdown performance from McCoy, especially considering the Carolina Panthers entered the night ranked dead-last in average rushing yards allowed per attempt.
McCoy also dropped a pass on 3rd-and-10 when he appeared to turn and run up the field with the ball before he had it in his possession.
Darren Sproles scored from eight yards out on his only carry of the game. While the Eagles rushed for just 37 yards on 23 carries, they did score twice on the ground.
Grade: D
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
3 of 8
The big star for the Philadelphia Eagles this year has been Jeremy Maclin, but on Monday night, rookie Jordan Matthews stole the show.
His preseason work with Sanchez was evident, as he grabbed seven receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
"Matthews' 138 receiving yards are 3rd-most by an Eagles rookie since 1960. Baskett 177 vs. Falcons in 2006, Maclin 142 vs. Bucs in 2009.
— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) November 11, 2014"
Matthews’ best play may have been a big catch he made on an early 3rd-and-14, and he highlighted that drive with four catches for 73 yards. It’s been an underrated season for Matthews.
"Jordan Matthews is on pace for 69 catches, 801 yards, 10 touchdowns.
— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) November 11, 2014
"
Maclin had a quiet game, finishing with three catches for 38 yards. He could have added to those totals but dropped his first pass of the season on a key 4th-and-2.
Riley Cooper and Josh Huff were relative non-factors, each finishing with one catch for six yards. Cooper appeared not to be on the same page with Sanchez on an early screen pass that hit him in the back.
Tight end Brent Celek broke out with a 116-yard day, averaging a solid 23.2 yards per reception. He didn’t catch any touchdowns, although he came inches away from doing so.
Zach Ertz had one 17-yard catch, which means Philadelphia got 133 total yards from the tight end position for the day.
Celek did leave the game early with an ankle injury.
Grade: B+
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Offensive Line
4 of 8
The return of Evan Mathis came at a great time for the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a dominant performance from the offensive line, which allowed just one sack to a Carolina Panthers team that finished with a whopping 59 a year ago.
Sanchez had a clean pocket to throw over and over again, and it was huge in his performance.
"Eagles have not protected this well all season. Sanchez has all day, surveying field, pump-faking. Panthers nowhere close to him.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) November 11, 2014"
The running game didn’t work out too well, but it doesn’t seem as if this was the offensive line’s fault. Jason Peters had a huge block on LeSean McCoy’s one-yard touchdown run up the middle, and the offense finished with four touchdowns in all.
Grade: A-
Defensive Line
5 of 8
The Carolina Panthers don’t have a particularly talented offensive line, but they flat out couldn’t block the Philadelphia Eagles front seven. It’s a 3-4 defense that the Eagles run, so the defensive linemen are responsible for freeing up blockers and allowing the linebackers to pick up sacks.
So how did that work Monday night?
Well, the team finished with nine sacks, harassing Newton all night. Fletcher Cox, who has been a top player all season without getting a sack, got his first one. Cedric Thornton forced an early fumble. Bennie Logan had a big stop of DeAngelo Williams on a third-down play, and then the Panthers missed the fourth down.
Third-year pass-rusher Vinny Curry was ferocious all game, recovering a fumble on Connor Barwin’s fourth sack and then strip sacking Newton later on.
The Eagles also allowed the Panthers to rush for just 3.2 yards per carry on 32 rushes, and the early rushing touchdown Philadelphia gave up was just the fourth one this unit has allowed in 2014.
Grade: A
Linebackers
6 of 8
This was perhaps the most dominant performance of Connor Barwin’s career, and he’s been a pretty good player in this league. He looked like Lawrence Taylor out there, and the Carolina Panthers had no answers in stopping him.
Barwin picked up not one, not two, not three but four sacks. He led the team with eight tackles. On his first sack, he chased down Newton from behind. On his second one, he made a fool out of left guard Amini Silatolu in one of the more amazing pass rushes you’ll ever see.
"Good god. https://t.co/zmqwgcrpdf
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) November 11, 2014"
His third sack came a play after his second sack. And on his fourth, he forced a fumble.
"Barwin with sack #10. First double digit sack player since 2011.
— Ben Natan (@BenNatan2) November 11, 2014"
Is Barwin a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate? He won’t win it because of J.J. Watt, but he’s right up there among the best defensive players of the 2014 season.
Barwin wasn’t the only star out there. Trent Cole had a sack and six tackles. Brandon Graham stuffed DeAngelo Williams early, stayed tight with Kelvin Benjamin in coverage, split a sack with Barwin (helping to force a fumble) and then picked up another sack later.
Mychal Kendricks showed off his speed with a blitzing sack out of nowhere.
"Mychal Kendricks has six sacks in his last eight games.
— Brett Strohsacker (@BStrohEagles) November 11, 2014"
Even Casey Matthews got in on the action, forcing a fumble on the game’s first drive.
Grade: A+
Secondary
7 of 8
Newton finished with two late touchdown passes to Benjamin (both with Cary Williams in coverage), but these were garbage-time plays in a game that had long been decided. The point is that the Philadelphia Eagles shut down Newton’s receivers, specifically Benjamin for the majority of the game.
Newton threw three interceptions—two to Eagles cornerbacks.
"Last time both starting Eagles CBs had an INT in the same game: Asante & Nnamdi vs. Skelton, Arizona, Nov. 13, 2011.
— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) November 11, 2014"
Williams had the first one, doing so on an incredibly athletic play. That was the first interception by an Eagles cornerback this season. Bradley Fletcher later added a pick-six, and then safety Nate Allen intercepted a Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
"This is 6th time since sacks became official in 1982 the Eagles have had 7 sacks & 3 INTs in a game. Most recently Dallas in 1991 and 2006.
— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) November 11, 2014"
Fletcher played the best of all the defensive backs, repeatedly drawing the praise of the announcers. He was tight in coverage on Cotchery. He intercepted a pass and took it to the house and also knocked down three passes.
"Bradley Fletcher PICK SIX!! @Eagles rolling. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/8g1MXbISYh
— ESPN Monday Night (@ESPNMondayNight) November 11, 2014"
Perhaps the only complaint that could be made about the secondary is that Panthers tight end Greg Olsen got the best of them repeatedly, finishing with six catches for 119 yards.
Still, Newton’s stats were heavily padded by the fact that the Panthers kept him in the game long after he should have been benched.
Grade: A-
Special Teams
8 of 8
Not enough positive words can be said about the job of special teams coach Dave Fipp this season. Again, his unit scored a touchdown, this time with electrifying punt returner Darren Sproles taking back a punt 65 yards for a score (a punt that looked remarkably reminiscent of DeSean Jackson’s runback against the New York Giants, especially with both plays going for exactly 65 yards).
"Nine defensive and special teams touchdowns this season. On pace to end with 16. Single-season record is 13. #Eagles
— Bryn Swartz (@eaglescentral) November 11, 2014"
Credit Brandon Boykin for having a nice block on the Sproles return.
Even without the punt return score, Sproles still ran back his other two for 20 total yards.
Kicker Cody Parkey converted his lone field-goal attempt, and Donnie Jones had a fine day, averaging 43.3 yards on his seven punts.
Grade: A+
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