DeMarco Murray’s snaps vanish in Eagles’ win over Patriots

Chip Kelly is only in his third year as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, and because he has yet to win a playoff game, his list of “signature wins” in the National Football League is somewhat small and dictated mostly on the situations he has found himself in over his first two years.

Kelly brushed off a question about Murray’s workload off after the victory in New England, saying the game plan will determine who gets the carries on a week to week basis, whether that means Murray, Sproles, Barner or whoever else.

Q: “Has he expressed any displeasure to the coaches about his role?”

Kelly’s system calls for a back that can run laterally, but Murray has primarily been a straight-ahead runner, and that’s left him floundering, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry.

The Eagles emerged victorious in Foxborough on Sunday, the first time any team has managed that feat this season.

For his part, Shurmur wouldn’t commit to who would do what when the Eagles oppose the Buffalo Bills Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. They have more depth at the position than any other point, but the Eagles signed Murray to a $40 million contract to serve as the featured running back. Kelly had no update on Mathews’ timetable. It’s a good problem to have when you have some backs that when you used all three of them, all three of them are productive for you.

Shurmur: “I think what you’ve got to look at is we won a football game the other night against a really fine opponent, and he contributed in the game, and I think that’s the reality, so there should be some joy in that at least for a few hours”.

Sproles had the most carries (15) for 66 yards, an average of 4.4 yards per attempt. Barner had seen just 14 carries all year before Sunday. Murray had 3 yards per carry.

Krause earned the opportunity with his performance in practice, Kelly said. “We had a couple of game plans. There were some things we were trying to do with the big linebackers and with Darren and Kenjon, but (Murray) fits in”.

“Some games you get a handful more, some guys you get a handful less”. He said the players knew their roles before playing the Patriots. He played eight snaps in the Eagles’ win over the Patriots, catching one pass for four yards.

Kelly does not speak to the media on Tuesday and the locker room won’t open until after practice, although Murray usually doesn’t speak until Thursday. It marked his most offensive touches since joining the Eagles. In just this season alone, ball-carriers will count roughly $9 million against the salary cap.

I didn’t know what exactly it was going to be like tonight with the shoulder.