THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-1) continued their impressive start to the NFL season last night, holding on for a 28-23 win over the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers (4-2) lost more than a game on Thursday as Pro Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly left late in the first half with a concussion.
While Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes, Carolina’s Cam Newton was intercepted three times.
Newton’s third pick, with just over three minutes remaining, sealed the Eagles’ victory. Newton badly overthrew to Russell Shepard and was picked by Jalen Mills at the Eagles’ 16-yard line. The Eagles went three-and-out and punted before the two-minute warning, but the Philadelphia defence held on the ensuing drive.
Newton, who was brilliant in the last two weeks in road wins over the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions, was 28 of 52 for 239 yards with a touchdown and the three interceptions.
He also ran for 71 yards and a touchdown as Panthers running backs Jonathan Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker and Christian McCaffrey combined for just one rushing yard on 13 carries. McCaffrey did have 10 receptions for 56 yards, but a fourth-and-one pass with one minute and 22 seconds remaining skipped into him at midfield.
After trading field goals in the first quarter, the Panthers scored the game’s first touchdown thanks to three incredible plays. The scoring drive was initially set up by McCaffrey’s 25-yard punt return to the Eagles’ 43-yard line.
Kelvin Benjamin then kept the drive alive with a diving 14-yard catch at the 16. Newton ran it in from there as a lane opened up and he went past Eagles rookie cornerback Rasul Douglas for an easy touchdown.
Douglas got some revenge on the next Panthers possession. Fletcher Cox, out for the last two weeks with a calf injury, hit Newton as he was throwing. That resulted in a fluttering ball that Douglas snatched out of the air at the Panthers’ 12-yard line.
After LeGarrette Blount was stopped a yard short on third-and-three from the five, Wentz picked up the first down on fourth-and-one with a quarterback sneak. That set up a one-yard pass to tight end Zach Ertz to tie things at 10-10.
Another Newton interception led to another touchdown pass from Wentz to Ertz, this time from 17 yards out. Newton was picked off for a third time, but Rodney McLeod’s interception was negated by an Eagles pass interference penalty. The 40-yard penalty moved the Panthers to the Eagles’ 25-yard line to set up Graham Gano’s 20-yard field goal.
The Eagles answered with a field goal of their own, a 48-yarder by Jake Elliott with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter.
The Eagles did not run with much consistency against the Panthers and it was Wentz carrying them. He completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 222 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also ran for 25 yards on six carries as Blount ran for 67 yards on 14 carries.
Thursday’s clincher was Wentz’s dart to a wide-open Nelson Agholor, who sprinted untouched into the end zone for a 24-yard score.
The Eagles now have a commanding lead in the NFC East. They already own division wins over the second-placed Washington Redskins (2-2) and the winless New York Giants (0-5). Thursday’s win also gives them a tie-breaker over the Panthers, which could be important for play-off seeding.
The big concern now for Carolina is the health of their star linebacker, who was replaced by David Mayo late in the second quarter. After being knocked to the ground by Brandon Brooks, Luke Kuechly finds himself in concussion protocol for the third time in as many seasons.
The six-year veteran has subsequently missed nine games over the last two seasons. Last season, some of the 26-year-old’s peers expressed their belief that he should now consider retirement for the sake of his health. This latest setback is likely to re-open that debate.
Whoever gets to play Mayo in the final is going to have 31 counties against them.
It’s how we like it. Áth Cliath abúuuuu.
Not afraid at all , we were tested by Tyrone an came out on top .. Everyone in the country knows mayo are a different team this year .. Bring it on Dublin or Kerry cause Sam will b in the west this year !
Cool vid.. I hope mayo finally get over the line this year. As a limerick man we feel yere pain
Different ! I like… :-)
Leslie Alan rock , silly cocky dub comment best let your football do the talking Sunday … As a mayo man I hope Kerry beat ye !!
Nothing cocky. Just humourous. Why would ye want kerry to beat us? Afraid are we?. If its Mayo v dublin in the final and you start like ye did against tyrone, its good night Irene
Looking forward to the Dublin/Kerry game, it’ll be like a final.
Poor Mayo, I think they actually believe the hype.
Bless ‘em.
Why are people so begrudging towards Mayo? Seriously?! Its not like they haven’t waited long enough to win without listening to the typical “choke” comments every 5 mins. They are in a different league this year, anyone can see that they have just as good a chance of winning the all ireland as Dublin/Kerry, if not better. Maigh-Eo abu!
Its fear……
Whos begrudging ? Every man and his dog wants Mayo to win and im from Kerry.
Delighted to hear that Ciaran! And in fairness most people feel the same , was just saying that some people seem a bit put out (scared) that Mayo are doing so well this year and just cant seem to give credit where it’s due! I really think this is the year they will do it and well deserved too!
Don’t take it personally – wait till you win it – then it’s 10 times worse. It’s just petty envy.
Don’t worry about Mayo our boys are training for a final id but be looking at Kerry
Mayo for sandwiches, dubs for Sam!
Dubs could get smoothered in Kerry Gold on Sunday Chris
Hang sambos, with Kerry Gold butter, mmmm. All that’s missing is the flask of tae, and a package of Tayho.
Fair play to them.
Sure why wouldn’t Mayo be the best at football, there is £uck all else to do there, except your cousin and sheep.
Fishing, mountain climbing, hill walking, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, beautiful scenery, amazing beaches, good pubs (cheap pints), great restaurants, sense of community, cheaper cost of living. Sure who would want any of that ;)
All that from a bottle of Hellmans. Cool.
And why does 1/2 of Dublin have a holiday home in Mayo then sid?
As a dub (and proud of it ) ive just come back from mayo and to say they are an amazing bunch is an understatement .i found them very friendly and genuine .. So if the dubs don’t win Sam id like to see mayo .. It will be a cracker of a day on Sunday :)
Ah people are always nice to pretty faces :)
You describe it as humorous Paul. I describe it as original, different and cool. I describe your hairstyle as humorous :)
Did he choke when he was on the crest of a wave?
Wow that’s original :)
We’ll beat kerry by 10-15 points, then beat mayo by 6-8, i get slattec everytime i predict this, but watch the dubs slaughter kerry on sunday. #COYBIB
Nice song
Niall I wouldn’t even respond to that pathetic comment
*slatted
*slated
Jesus ye don’t half build yourselves up in mayo, sharon murray you are simply a hype machine, you and your ilk should be playing things down, not ramping it up. Ye have’nt won it in sixty odd years, hold off on yer “they deserve to win it” untill ye actually win it. Setting youselves up for a massive fall the way some of you carry on.