Can you say anymore about how well the Eagles defense played last night.
While on the otherhand, Donvan McNabb led the way for his best career day
passing in his young life. He finished the day throwing 30 for 44 and 311 yards
with 2 TD's and 1 INT, while the Eagles amassed a total of 502 yards. The
Eagles defense held the Falcons to only 200 yards, with over half of that total
coming in garbage time long after the game was already decided. The Eagles defense
blitzed Atlanta's QB Chris Chandler relentlessly all game long. They hit him hard and
often. Eagles' defensive linemen Corey Simon and Mike Mamula had the teams only
sacks on the day, raising their total to 18. But it was the pressure that led
to incompletion after incompletion. The Falcons were forced to block with both
backs and the tight end almost all night long and still the Eagles pass rushers
got to Chandler on most plays forcing incompletions and one interception. That one
interception by none other than Hugh Douglass, his first career interception.
The Eagles defense held those Dirty birds to only 55 measely first half yards.
Half way through the third quarter, they were even down to 47 total yards on the
day. Jamaal Anderson, the great running back who led the Falcons to the Super Bowl
only 2 years ago had only 47 yards rushing all game on 19 carries. The Eagles defense
came up big on third down, time and time again, often stopping them on third and short
a number of times. The Eagles defense is now ranked in the top 4 in the NFL, if not
2nd overall behind Miami. The Eagles do boast the NFL's #1 passing defense. What a
statement the Bird's made prime-time on national television as the the Eagles buried
the Falcons on both sides of the ball. SIGN MAN said it best,
WE'RE NOT THE SAME OLD EAGLES".
The Eagles offense led by the play of Donavan McNabb and Brian Mitchell led to 502
total yards. McNabb completed over 68% of his passes to 10 different receivers with
Torrance Small leading the way with 122 yards on 4 catches highlighted by his 70 yard
TD run in the 3rd quarter which gave the Birds a 14-0 lead at the time. Charles Johnson
also had 6 catches for 47 yards and 1 TD. Eagles tight end Chad Lewis had the most with 7 catches.
But it was Donovan McNabb who held his ground making all the right decisions including
57 yards rushing on 7 carries and NO sacks. McNabb had his finest hour as a pro in his
brief career and his first 300 yard passing game to date. The only blemish happened in the 3rd
quarter on a 70 yard TD punt return by Tim Dwight. But the Eagles came right back with
the help of Damian Douglass' kickoff return of 41 yards to the Falcons 45 yard line.
This set up the 3rd and last of David Aker's field goals on the night and a 17-7 lead.
The Eagles never looked back as they controlled the clock and game almost completely
throughout. The Eagles will face their biggest test however next week as they face
archrival "Washington Redskins" here in South Philly. If they win this one.....WATCH OUT NFL!
Cecil Martin escapes the grasps of Falcon's linebacker Keith Brooking for a first down in the
first quarter. This opening drive led to a David Aker's 39 yard field goal.
The Eagles defense led by Brandon Whiting stop Jamaal Anderson for a 2 yard loss in the 2nd
quarter. Anderson was held for only 47 yards.
Brian Mitchell ran for 20 yards on this 4th quarter play to keep this Eagles TD drive
alive.
Brian Mitchell celebrates with the fans after scoring this 85 yard TD run for his
second TD in the game with only 1 minute 52 seconds left.