Two weeks ago against Washington, the Eagles opened up the vertical passing game to help ignite the offense, as Sam Bradford connected with Riley Cooper for a 62-yard touchdown. Facing a Giants defense that ranked second in the league in stopping the run on Monday night, the Eagles again looked to jump-start the offense with the vertical game, and again, it was Cooper making the play.
After three quiet games to start the year, Cooper has come on as of late. In Monday's 27-7 victory, Cooper led the Eagles with 76 receiving yards, and it was his 32-yard touchdown grab that opened the scoring for the Eagles after an early 7-0 deficit.
After the game, Cooper credited quarterback Sam Bradford for putting the ball where it needed to be.
"Sam put it where only I can catch it," Cooper said. "The easy part is running and catching. The hard part is pinpoint accuracy where only the wide receiver can catch it, and I think Sam did an unbelievable job of that."
Statistically, Bradford didn't have his best game, throwing three interceptions for just the second time in his career, but Cooper was quick to praise the Eagles' quarterback from the way he rebounded and found a way to come away with a victory.
"After that (first) interception ... he kind of just smiled and said it happens," Cooper said. "That's just kind of his attitude. He cares a ton, but he's not going to let it affect his decision-making on following plays. I'm really impressed by his leadership and his desire to win. You see it when you're in the huddle and on the sideline, and I respect it. He's doing a great job."
Cooper had another big play down the field later in the game, as Bradford hit him for a 42-yard gain. Without rookie Nelson Agholor in the lineup due to injury, Cooper was able to step up and provide that big-play threat, but according to the Florida product, his own production has a lot to do with those around him.
"I think the offensive line is doing a great job of protecting, and then with all of the weapons we have, with Jordan (Matthews) going across the middle, he requires a lot of attention from backside safeties," Cooper said. "All of the weapons that we have, all of the eyes are on them, and I'm just running a post back side and they require so much attention, that it helps me get open."
The Eagles moved back to .500 at 3-3 and took hold of first place in the NFC East for the time being. While a 20-point victory over a divisional foe always is always a good thing, Cooper knows that the Eagles' offense still has a lot of room for growth as they head into a pivotal matchup on the road with the undefeated Carolina Panthers.
"Everything wasn't clicking," Cooper admitted. "We put up a ton of yards, but we had a lot of turnovers and we have to fix it."
As the Eagles look to shore up the offensive issues and win their third-straight game next week in Charlotte, it will be interesting to see if Cooper and the vertical game continue to play a big role in the Eagles' offensive game plan.
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
