It's not often that an NFL quarterback throws three interceptions and leaves the field with a win. It's even rarer that such a victory comes in blowout fashion. But thanks in large part to the sensational play of the Eagles' defense on Monday night, Sam Bradford can count himself amongst the lucky ones.
Philadelphia's defense held the Giants to just 247 yards of total offense, 80 of which came on an eight-play touchdown drive by New York that opened the game. That march down the field culminated in the team's only scoring play of the game, a 13-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Odell Beckham Jr. Over the final 55 minutes and 23 seconds of the game, the Eagles' defense pitched a shutout, and Bradford and the offense were able to muster 20 points – seven more came via a Nolan Carroll pick-six – to come away with a 27-7 victory.
"Our defense was outstanding tonight," the veteran quarterback after a win that propelled Philadelphia into first place in the NFC East. "I think all the credit goes to them. ... They created a lot of turnovers tonight. That always gives us momentum, that always gives us juice."
The first points scored by the Eagles' offense came after a DeMeco Ryans interception in the first quarter, with Bradford orchestrating a seven-play, 78-yard scoring drive that ended with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Riley Cooper in the end zone.
"That was huge," he said of the early touchdown. "Great concentration, great catch by Cooper. I left that ball a little short, and he did a good job staying with it and making that play. ... For us to be able to come out and put a touchdown up on the second drive is something that we haven't done. ... It was big for us."
In fact, it was the first time the Eagles had scored a touchdown in the first quarter of a game all season. For all its potential, Philadelphia's offense has not lived up to the expectations hoisted upon it by preseason prognosticators. But in the past two weeks, the team has posted its two best offensive performances of the season, and although Bradford hasn't been flawless, he's done enough to manage 20-plus point victories in each game. In those two games combined, he's completed 56 of his 83 passes (67.5 percent) for 613 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.
That last number comes as somewhat of a surprise, especially to Bradford, who has thrown nine picks through six games this year after never throwing more than 1.0 per game in any of his previous four seasons.
"It's something that I never really had a problem with in my career," he said. "This is kind of new to me, but we're going to get it fixed. I am going to get it fixed. And hopefully we are going to eliminate that from our offense."
With a short week ahead of him, Bradford will look to bounce right back against the 5-0 Panthers when the team travels to Carolina this Sunday. Under defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who is familiar to Eagles fans, the Panthers have allowed the second-fewest touchdown passes (5) and have notched the second-most interceptions (8).
"We've won our last two at home, we've won three of our last four, and that's really how we're handling the rest of the season," Bradford said. "Next week, we have a big one against Carolina, and that's really all that we are concerned with right now."
The Eagles faced the Giants for Monday Night Football, sporting their #BackInBlack uniforms. View the full gallery here...
Heading towards open field
The Eagles are ready to fly
BackInBlack
In focus
S Malcolm Jenkins gets the team fired up
TE Zach Ertz takes the field
QB Sam Bradford heads out for warm-ups
Young fans wait for their chance to see the Eagles
LB Brandon Graham makes his way around
Eagles Alum Brian Dawkins enjoys warm-ups
Eagles Alum Brian Dawkins
S Chris Maragos storms onto the field
CB Byron Maxwell is ready to go
It's go time
P Donnie Jones warms up
And the kick!
LB Brandon Graham starts the run
DT Bennie Logan has arrived
LB DeMeco Ryans comes up with the interception
Eagles' ball!
EaglesHOF inductee Brian Westbrook takes the field with fellow Eagles Alum Brian Dawkins
Black endzones for #BackInBlack
The Eagles take the field
FlyEaglesFly!
Challenger makes his entrance
LB Connor Barwin warms up
LS Jon Dorenbos prepares for the snap
RB DeMarco Murray makes his move
QB Sam Bradford makes the throw
WR Josh Huff takes flight
RB Darren Sproles stretches out
Catching up during pregame
Who's ready for some Monday Night Football?
Hanging out on the sidelines
EaglesHOF inductee Brian Westbrook on the sidelines during pregame
LB Mychal Kendricks takes a photo with a fan
LB DeMeco Ryans makes the stop
The Harder They Fall
RB Ryan Mathews pushes for more yards
Blocking for QB Sam Bradford
DE Fletcher Cox goes for the tackle
LB DeMeco Ryans lead the way
QB Sam Bradford gets the throw off just in time
RB DeMarco Murray runs the ball
QB Sam Bradford and WR Riley Cooper celebrate the touchdown
K Caleb Sturgis makes the extra point
LB DeMeco Ryans makes the catch tough
Wide Receivers Coach Bob Bicknell is fired up
RB DeMarco Murray finds his way around the defense
WR Riley Cooper makes the flying tackle
LB Connor Barwin gets the crowd into it
LB DeMeco Ryans is locked in
OLB Coach Bill McGovern is pleased with what he sees
Enjoying the game!
The stop
High-fives all around for DE Vinny Curry
This is #EaglesNation
Celebrations all around!
WR Riley Cooper holds onto the ball
WR Josh Huff in stride
T Matt Tobin squares up
Protecting the Nest
LB Brandon Graham stops the run
Giants QB Eli Manning is sacked
DE Vinny Curry takes over
Powering through
LB Brandon Graham puts pressure on Giants QB Eli Manning
BrotherlyLove
WR Jordan Matthews with the grab
Brace for impact!
K Caleb Sturgis
Another good kick for K Caleb Sturgis
Graham and Barwin hit hard
DE Fletcher Cox gets to Manning
DB Walter Thurmond
TE Zach Ertz carries the ball
Putting up protection
WR Josh Huff gets tied up
The pass is in the air
CB E.J. Biggers goes for the tackle
QB Sam Bradford scrambles
S Malcolm Jenkins breaks up the pass
BackInBlack Premiere with QB Sam Bradford
TE Zach Ertz keeps running
RB DeMarco Murray celebrates the touchdown
The Eagles soar!
QB Sam Bradford has time to throw
WR Miles Austin makes the catch
RB Ryan Mathews runs through traffic
...and the rockets' red glare
The defense recovers!
In the endzone!
Breaking it down!
The Eagles maintain their lead
The Eagles put the pressure on
Marking up
CB Nolan Carroll intercepts the ball
Pick 6!
WR Riley Cooper holds on
WR Riley Cooper defends on Special Teams
CB Byron Maxwell gets his grip
CB Nolan Carroll with the tackle
WR Riley Cooper for the touchdown!
WR Riley Cooper doesn't give up on the tackle
DE Fletcher Cox having a good time
Defense!
C Jason Kelce makes the tackle
DE Vinny Curry comes in strong
You know who it is!
WR Miles Austin charges
