The Eagles put forth one of their best defensive efforts of the season and got two TDs from LeSean McCoy as they downed the Dolphins 26-10 at Sun Life Stadium. The win moves the Eagles to 5-8 and keeps their small playoff hopes alive.
The Eagles defense was everything they weren't on the Thursday night game in Seattle. In that game, Marshawn Lynch was running all over them and the defense could do nothing to stop him nor could they force a turnover. This afternoon against Miami, the Eagles were rock solid in short yardage and forced three Miami turnovers leading to 17 Eagles points. To top it all off, they also scored 2 points with a safety.
How good were the Eagles in short yardage? They stuffed Miami on two 3rd & 1s, two 4th & 1s, a 3rd and 3, a 2nd & goal from the 2 & a 3rd and goal from the 2. The D also registered a season high nine sacks, their highest total since a 2008 game against the Steelers. The defense was so stifling today that after the Brandon Marshall TD catch in the first quarter, nearly 35 minutes of game time would go by before the Dolphins would score again.
On offense, LeSean McCoy keeps rushing toward history with two more scores today. He now needs just one more rushing TD this season to equal Steve Van Buren's franchise record of 14, which has stood since 1945. Also. one more receiving or rushing TD would tie McCoy with Van Buren for the most total TDs in a season. With three and a half games left, it seems as though McCoy is very likely to own both franchise records before the end of the season.
McCoy's two TDs today are even more impressive coming against the Dolphins, who have one of the best run defenses in football. Prior to this game, they had allowed just three rushing TDs all season. McCoy is also the first RB with two rushing TDs in a game against Dolphins since Fred Jackson in 2009. Of course, this is not to say it was a great day for McCoy overall, who aside from the two TDs, had a very frustrating afternoon. The Eagles offensive line was completely dominated in both the pass and the run. McCoy had defenders in the backfield on most plays and could only manage 38 yards on 27 carries. The line wasn't much better against the pass as Michael Vick was sacked four times and forced to make at least two or three of those patented impossible Vick escapes.
Overall it was a comfortable win by the Eagles and one that at least keeps them in the playoff hunt for what that's worth. The Eagles still need to win out to have any shot. The Giants beating the Cowboys tonight would also help.