After a stellar preseason performance, quarterback Sam Bradford has struggled to find that same level of production. In fact, the entire Eagles' offense has had its fair share of issues.
However, Sunday's game against New Orleans may very well prove to be the turning point for this team. A win, 519 yards and 39 points later, Bradford and his teammates are feeling confident again. They know what they are capable of doing on the field, and this performance proved they can be dominant.
"I think after what we were able to do in the preseason, I think everyone has been waiting for this," Bradford said following the win. "It's obviously a great feeling to go out there and be able to do that today. Now it's just something that we have to build. Obviously, it's not going to be like this every week, but to know that we're clicking and we're rolling, that we can go out and do that, I think that's just going to give us confidence now to go out there and do it more often."
The quarterback gave all the credit in the world to his offensive line. Up to this point, the O-line has had its share of struggles. It's been injury-plagued and even heading into this game, numerous players were battling injuries, including tackles Jason Peters and Lane Johnson.
But today, the group stepped up to the challenge and its play led to the success of the team, and more specifically, of Bradford.
The Eagles returned home to face the Saints in Week 5 of the regular season. View the full gallery here...
Not stopping DE Fletcher Cox
QB Sam Bradford finds his man
The lasers fall on RB Ryan Mathews
RB Ryan Mathews beats the defense
Thanking our amazing staff members!
Going for the ball
TE Zach Ertz gets the edge
Checking out the new hardware
Touchdown!
The kick
The Gameday Staff jersey
Free face painting in HeadHouse Plaza!
Getting new Eagles art
EaglesTBC wood sculpture
Tackling Breast Cancer! #EaglesTBC
Crazy In Stereo rocking out in HeadHouse Plaza!
Enjoying pregame on the sidelines
Habits Reflect the Mission
Ready to Tackle Breast Cancer #EaglesTBC
QB Sam Bradford warms up
Rise and Shine!
S Malcolm Jenkins gets everyone fired up
It's time!
Heading to the locker room after pregame
A toss to TE Trey Burton
A pass to WR Jordan Matthews
K Caleb Sturgis leads the way
Before the lights...
CB Byron Maxwell makes his way to the field
It's time to work!
WR Riley Cooper warms up
Ts Allen Barbre and Jason Peters make the block
The pass from QB Sam Bradford
TE Brent Celek warms up
QB Stephen Morris throws a few passes
Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur talks to players during pregame
QB Sam Bradford gets ready for the game
RB DeMarco Murray prepares to face the Saints
QB Sam Bradford
RB Darren Sproles makes his run
RB Darren Sproles during pregame
RB DeMarco Murray on the carry
RB DeMarco Murray runs the ball
C/G Josh Andrew during pregame
Signing the jersey
Running Back Coach Duce Staley is excited for the game
Catching up with the Saints
Head Coaches Chip Kelly and Sean Payton talk during pregame
The coaches watch practice
DT Bennie Logan sacks Saints QB Drew Brees
Celebrating the sack!
Enjoying the #EaglesTBC game!
RB Ryan Mathews beats the tackle
RB DeMarco Murray stays on his feet
TE Brent Celek goes for the block
Going for the pass
T Lane Johnson protects on the snap
C Julian Vandervelde hits the pads
RB Kenjon Barner wearing his #EaglesTBC gear during pregame
The speed
EaglesNation is the best!
DE Fletcher Cox warms up
LB Connor Barwin takes off
All smiles here!
Can't catch LB Bryan Braman
DT Bennie Logan goes for Saints QB Drew Brees
The sack!
Trying to break the tackle
LB Connor Barwin pushes back
QB Sam Bradford finds his receiver
RB Darren Sproles does his thing
The pass is in the air
The celebration
Celebrating WR Josh Huff's touchdown
RB DeMarco Murray Makes it to the sideline
WR Josh Huff flips into the endzone
Admiring the new pin
FlyEaglesFly
S Chris Maragos comes up on Special Teams
DE Fletcher Cox gets the sack
The Eagles Drumline rocks the house!
EaglesTBC drums!
WR Jordan Matthews controls the ball
Dodging defenders
The defense stops New Orleans
Protection allows for the throw
All smiles for WR Josh Huff
The moment before the touchdown...
QB Sam Bradford is dialed in
RB DeMarco Murray tries to beat the Saints defenders
SproleTrain
RB DeMarco Murray attacks
TE Zach Ertz heads in the right direction
DE Fletcher Cox celebrates another sack
An amazing stop by S Malcolm Jenkins
K Caleb Sturgis and LS Jon Dorenbos celebrate the extra point
Honoring our Gameday Staff members who have been with us for 10 years!
The Drumline entertaining
The defense swarms
Drums of Thunder performs at halftime
Together We Fight
EaglesTBC Drumline
RB Ryan Mathews finds the endzone
Eyes on the prize
Fumble!
DE Fletcher Cox pokes the ball loose
WR Josh Huff flips into the endzone
Soaring
RB DeMarco Murray changes direction
TE Brent Celek flies through the defense
WR Jordan Matthews braces for the tackle
WR Josh Huff is a happy man
Three cheers for WR Josh Huff!
Rocking out!
Young musicians
TE Brent Celek scores!
Touchdown celebrations
QB Sam Bradford makes the call
T Jason Peters puts up the block
TE Zach Ertz charges forward
RB Ryan Mathews on the move
EaglesTBC
How about that Drumline?!
Pink drums for #EaglesTBC
LB Connor Barwin tries to block the pass
Coming in for the landing
RB DeMarco Murray dodges
WR Josh Huff protects the ball
QB Sam Bradford gives instructions
Two against one
Full steam ahead!
The kick is good!
K Caleb Sturgis in stride
RB Darren Sproles makes his move
DE Cedric Thornton reaches for the tackle
All hands on deck
S Malcolm Jenkins is on fire
WR Jordan Matthews defends
Fear DE Fletcher Cox
Fumble recovery for DE Fletcher Cox
EaglesNation is loving it!
Head-to-head
Trying to break the tackle
RB Ryan Mathews has arrived
Touchdown celebrations all around!
Nothing like a fumble recovery to put a smile on your face
LB Brandon Graham pushes back
Having a great time with #EaglesNation!
TE Brent Celek celebrates
LB DeMeco Ryans forces the fumble
DB Walter Thurmond intercepts the ball!
Bleed Green
Eagles Alum Sheldon Brown meets fans
Sheldon Brown speaking to Eagles Season Ticket Members
EaglesTBC ice sculptures
Volunteers selling #EaglesTBC hats!
EaglesTBC rally towels
Volunteers handing out #EaglesTBC rally towels
"Those guys were unbelievable today, not only in the pass game but in the run game. I thought our guys up front were phenomenal," the quarterback said. "I think I went to the ground maybe one time today. When those guys play like that, it makes my job a lot easier.
"I've got all the confidence in the world in those guys. I think we had a great week of preparation. We were prepared to see some different and difficult looks today. I thought everyone was on the same page, but I thought those guys up front, they just did a great job. You could really tell they were wearing them down. We were able to start running the football at the end of the game. Those guys dominated the line of scrimmage today."
The only major offensive breakdowns came in the early parts of the game. Bradford threw two interceptions, both of which were grabbed by the Saints in the end zone.
He took blame for the first interception, acknowledging that the throw intended for Riley Cooper was too far behind the receiver. The second he felt was merely a great play by the Saints ... and a bit of bad luck for him.
The two picks were part of the reason Philadelphia went into the half leading only by three, despite accumulating exactly 300 yards of offense. But, that statistic alone showed the team that it was successfully moving down the field. It just had to keep grinding.
"I don't think they had stopped us once. I was stopping us throwing interceptions in the red zone," Bradford explained. "We knew that we were able to move the football. That really wasn't a problem. So I think, halftime, we were still confident. I think we scored the first drive out of halftime. That was big."
The touchdown was the team's second of what would be four on the afternoon. Bradford finished the game 32-of-45 for 333 yards, his longest pass being a 41-yard completion. The two interceptions were the only major blemishes for the quarterback who earned an 88.5 rating with his performance.
Clearly, this is a game he and the Eagles will use as momentum moving forward. If they clean up a few of the mistakes, the offense may be what was expected at the start of the season.
"The win is nice. I think the big thing for us and this team is just to build on this," he said. "By no means are we where we want to be as a team, but I think today was a step in the right direction. I think if we can continue to build on this, then hopefully in three, four, five, six weeks we'll be in a better position than we are now."
