In their second game under the primetime lights this season, the Philadelphia Eagles flew all over the Carolina Panthers as they got their seventh win of the season by the final score of 45-21.
It would be an easy opening few minutes for quarterback Mark Sanchez and the Eagles offense as the defense terrorized Cam Newton and the Panthers offense early on. On Carolina’s first possession, defensive end Cedric Thronton striped the ball out of running back DeAngelo Williams’s arms for the first turnover. The turnover led to a 39-yard Cody Parkey field goal to put the Eagles on the board first.
On the next defensive stand for the birds, cornerback Cary Williams got a turnover of his own when he snagged a ball out the air for an interception. As Sanchez and the offense took the field, key blocks helped Darren Sproles run untouched into the endzone from eight yards out.
After the two early defensive successes, it seemed Newton and the Panthers found their way. A drive that was highlighted by a long connection from Newton to tight end Greg Olsen led to a one-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart.
With the defense and offense making early statements in the game, special teams decided to get into the mix as well. On a Brad Nortman punt for Carolina, Sproles took the line-drive 65 yards for a touchdown, his second score of the night.
The Eagles offensive attack continued with a 91-yard touchdown drive that mainly saw Sanchez and rookie wide receiver Jordan Matthews as the stars. The drive was capped by a 13-yard connection from Sanchez to Matthews, their first of two touchdown connections on the night.
The first half of the contest would not end without one more defensive showing as cornerback Bradley Fletcher recorded a 34-yard pick six to do further damage.
The Panthers struggles continued into the second half when a Connor Barwin’s fourth sack of the game led to yet another defensive turnover. The forced fumble and recovery set up a 37-yard connection from Sanchez to tight end Brent Celek followed by a one-yard touchdown run by LeSean McCoy.
In his first start since the 2012 season, Mark Sanchez put up magnificent numbers as he finished the game 20/37 for 332 yards and two touchdowns.
This Sunday, the Eagles will take on the red-hot Aaron Rogers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field with a 4:25 kickoff.
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