Head coach Chip Kelly knew it was only a matter of time before Fletcher Cox had a game like this. And most Eagles fans who've watched the former first-round pick play over the past four seasons felt that way too.
Cox is one of the standouts on a defensive unit that has been among the league's best this season, and in Sunday's 39-17 rout against New Orleans he notched six tackles, three of which were sacks and another a tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. His three takedowns of the quarterback made him one of just 18 Eagles ever to hit that mark in a game.
But despite his inspired performance against the Saints, the 24-year-old deflected praise and hoisted all of it upon his teammates after the game.
"I'm going to give the credit to the back end today," he said of the excellent pass coverage provided by the Eagles' defensive backfield. "All three of those sacks were coverage sacks. ... I knew it was going to be a grind playing against a Hall of Fame quarterback. Drew Brees was getting the ball out early, and the couple times he held the ball we got great coverage and were able to get after the quarterback."
Cox is never one to turn the spotlight onto himself. It's not in his nature, and even if it were it's not something he would get to do often. For the most part, the work he does on Sundays flies under the rader. As a defensive end in a 3-4 system, it's his job to use his size to draw attention from the opposing team's offensive line and open things up for second-level defenders to make plays.
Life as a lineman in the 3-4 can be tough. Statistics are naturally muted by scheme, and truly great players are often overlooked by more casual fans. Few Eagles fans would have argued that Cox was one of the most valuable members of the team's defense last season, but in 16 games he notched 48 tackles and four sacks, which ranked sixth and fifth for Philadelphia, respectively. When it came time to select players for the Pro Bowl, Cox's name garnered little national attention. But defensive coordinator Bill Davis hopes games like this will help change the league's perception of the budding star.
"I hope the outside world recognized the talent that he has," said Davis. "He's a Pro Bowl-caliber player. I've been around a long time, and that's what they look like. They play the run, and they cause disruptions in the passing game. Sack numbers come and go, but he has the skill set."
But Cox doesn't seem to mind being shrouded in relative obscurity. For him, the only thing that matters is the success of his unit, and the team as a whole. Stats are nice, but wins are better, he says.
"It's the fifth game of the season. (I'm not) thinking about being All-Pro, or Pro Bowl, or none of that," he said. "Most importantly, we won the football game. That's the most important thing about it, to get this team back on a good roll."
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
