Sproles, defense help Eagles beat Jets for 1st win, 24-17

Their offensive line got pushed around, and their defense failed to generate a consistent pass rush.

And it’s usually a long return that provides the healing tonic.

The Browns, down 27-10 in the fourth quarter, rallied to cut the Raiders lead to a touchdown with 6:26 left and forced the Raiders to punt, but Travis Benjamin mishandled the punt with 4:01 left and the Raiders recovered. By the time they would return, they would know if they still had a meaningful football season. A video review confirmed the call, and the Eagles made the Jets pay.

More likely, it was the way the Eagles would cope, and the way they still must cope, even with their 24-17 victory Sunday, the one that dragged them back to within a game of the NFC East lead.

Facing the possibility of an 0-3 start, the Eagles’ season could have been close to over with a loss to the Jets.

What Marshall made happen was 24-0 Eagles.

In fact, they’re now 10-0 lifetime against the East Coast’s other green machine.

Eagles kicker Cody Parkey booted a 30-yard field goal in the first quarter before Philadelphia extended the lead to 24-0 by scoring three touchdowns in a span of just over 10 minutes in the second quarter.

With the Jets in desperate need of a lift on offense on the ensuing possession, Marshall tried to do too much as he caught a 17-yard pass – and then tried to get off a backward pass to Jeff Cumberland.

Davis recovered a fumble by Mathews with 7:23 left to give the Jets the ball at the Philadelphia 41-yard-line, but Fitzpatrick was picked off by Hicks three plays later.

This was a win and the Eagles absolutely had to have it. Sproles then did just that, evading at least four clear opportunities for the Jets to bring him down. It’s three games into the season and still there is no sign of a deep passing game.

Only time will tell how big Sunday’s will prove to be, but in the short term, it’s the highlight of the season. We knew our backs were against the wall this week. “That’s all I saw”. It was set up to the left.

Jets coach Todd Bowles, who had the play unfold right in front of him, had a more vivid recollection.

“I feel like the first couple of weeks, there was a lot of pressure on us”, quarterback Sam Bradford said.

“The winning formula for us is not gonna be turning the ball over and throwing it 58 times”, Fitzpatrick said.

The punt was low and outdistanced the coverage.

“I wasn’t getting open, I wasn’t making a play, and that puts our offense in a bind”, Marshall said. We are tied for second, one game out of first place.

The Eagles were the ones left standing.

On the season, the Philadelphia Eagles average 277.5 yards in passing and 35 yards in rushing.

He’s largely been a non-factor, with most of his memorable runs being the ones where he’s going backwards.

“It was kind of ugly”, Kelly said. If ever they were facing Al Davis stakes, it was Sunday.

“Absolutely”, Kelce said. “Any time you’re coming off of a win, it’s a different mentality, a different mindset”. “But it’s obviously easier on Tuesday when you’re talking to a team after a win than it is after a loss. So we will still have a worker’s approach to this week of preparation”.