Lurie's Landmarks … Since Jeffrey Lurie's first year owning the team in 1995, the Eagles have earned 12 playoff appearances and won seven division titles. During that span only three teams have more playoff appearances (including just one NFC team): Indianapolis (15), New England (14), and Green Bay (14). Just four teams (one NFC team) have more division titles: New England (13), Green Bay (10), Indianapolis (9), and Pittsburgh (9).
Chip-ping Away … After going 4-12 a year ago, the Eagles posted a 10-6 record and won the NFC East, making Chip Kelly the first rookie head coach in Eagles history to win the division in his first year on the job. Kelly also became the second head coach since the merger to win a division title in his first season on a NFL coaching staff. Barry Switzer also did so in 1994 as the head coach of the Cowboys … Since the NFL expanded to a 16-game season in 1978, there are 146 teams that went 4-12 or worse from 1978-2012
- Only 36 of those teams posted a winning record the following year (24.7%).
- Only 26 of those teams made the playoffs the following year (17.8%)
- Only 13 of those teams won their division the following year (8.9%)
Here is a detailed breakdown of the team's turnaround in 2013:
2012 Stats 2013 Stats
Points per game 17.5 27.6
Points allowed per game 27.8 23.9
Total Yards per game 354.1 417.3
Rush Yards per game 117.1 160.4
Turnover margin -24 +12
Turnovers per game 2.3 1.2
Takeaways per game 0.8 1.9
Def. Interceptions 8 19
Saint Nick … QB Nick Folesfinished the regular season as the NFL's leader in passer rating (119.2), becoming the first Eagle to do so since Tommy Thompson in 1948 and 1949. Foles finished with the third-best QB rating for a season in NFL history (Aaron Rodgers – 122.5 in 2011, Peyton Manning – 121.1 in 2004) … Foles threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys for a 124.4 rating, marking his ninth game this season with a passer rating over 100, which tied Donovan McNabb's franchise record set in 2004 ... For the season, Foles threw 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions. In doing so, he posted the best TD/INT ratio in NFL history and became the only quarterback to throw over 20 touchdowns and fewer than two interceptions. He also joined Tom Brady (36 TDs, 4 INTs in 2010) as the only quarterbacks to throw over 25 touchdowns and fewer than five interceptions ... With two interceptions in 317 attempts this season, Foles' 0.63% interception percentage ranks as the third-lowest in NFL history ... His 27 touchdown passes tied for the fifth-highest single-season total in Eagles history ... Foles is currently the franchise's all-time leader in QB rating (101.0) and completion percentage (62.5). He also set the single-season franchise mark in completion percentage (64.0).
It's Always Shady in Philadelphia … RB LeSean McCoyfinished the season as the NFL's leader in rushing yards (1,607) and scrimmage yards (2,146 yards), while setting the team record in both categories ... It marks the first time an Eagle led the league in both categories since Stave Van Buren in 1947. McCoy is also the first Eagle to lead the league in rushing since Van Buren 1949 and to lead the league in scrimmage yards since Brian Westbrook in 2007 … The previous Eagles records were held by Wilbert Montgomery (1,512 rushing yards in 1979) and Brian Westbrook (2,104 yards from scrimmage in 2007) … McCoy also led the league in rushing attempts (324) and total touches (362) … With 131 yards against Dallas, McCoy tallied his seventh 100-yard game of the season, tying for second-most in a season … The Eagles are now 16-3 in McCoy's 19 career 100-yard games, which rank tied with Steve Van Buren for the third-most in franchise history.
Jackpot … With 1,332 receiving yards in 2013, WR DeSean Jacksonfinished the season with the second-highest total in team history behind Mike Quick's 1,409 yards in 1983. His 82 receptions this season ranked fourth and were the most by an Eagles wide receiver since Irving Fryar had 86 in 1997.
The Angry Bird ... LB Mychal Kendricks forced a fumble and registered his third interception of the season. He became just the third player in team history to have at least four sacks and three interceptions in a season, joining William Thomas (1996) and Seth Joyner (1991 and 1992). He is also one of just four players to do so in 2013 (Lavonte David, Karlos Dansby, Daryl Smith) ... Kendricks forced a fumble which was recovered by CB Bradley Fletcher on Dallas' opening drive, marking DeMarco Murray's first lost fumble of the season and the 11th straight game the Eagles did not allow opening-drive points.
Pick 'em … CB Brandon Boykin intercepted Kyle Orton in the final minutes to ice the game, marking his sixth interception of the season, which tied for the second-highest total in the NFL behind Richard Sherman (8) ... After totaling just eight INTs in 2012, the Eagles picked off 19 passes this season, including 17 over the last 12 games.
Offensive Quick Hits ... The Eagles offensive line started all 16 games together this season, their first time doing so since 2006 ... The Eagles snapped a streak of nine consecutive red zone possessions with a touchdown ... With 98 plays of 20-plus yards in 2013, the Eagles had the most such plays in a single season since the stat started being recorded by Stats Inc. in 1995. They surpassed the previous record of 96 by the 2001 St. Louis Rams ... Foles and McCoy became the first duo in NFL history to lead the league in quarterback rating and rushing yards ... TE Brent Celek caught three passes for 71 yards and his sixth TD of the season. With 312 career receptions, he moved past Bobby Walston for eighth on the team's all-time list list ... Jason Avant (297) surpassed Calvin Williams for 11th on the team's all-time receptions list ... RB Bryce Brown finished the season with touchdown runs in back-to-back games.
Turning the Tables ... After committing 37 turnovers a year ago, the Eagles set a team record in 2013 for fewest turnovers in a season after surrendering just 19 giveaways on the year, which beat the previous record of 22 set in 2003 and 2004 … The Eagles +12 turnover margin this year is the team's best mark since going +15 in 2009 and tied for third in the NFL … In the Eagles ten wins, they are plus-18 in turnover margin and minus-six in their six losses ... The Eagles have tallied at least one takeaway in 12 straight games, their first time doing so in a 12-game stretch since 2004 during a 15-game span … Eagles running backs have surrendered just one fumble this year despite recording a combined 464 touches.
Offensive Juggernaut … The Eagles set numerous offensive team records this season, including points (442), total net yards (6,676), touchdowns (53), and gross passing yards (4,406) ... The Eagles finished the season with the second-ranked offense in terms of yardage, behind the Denver Broncos (7,317) and the fourth-ranked offense in terms of points ... With 4,110 passing yards and 2,566 rushing yards in 2013, the Eagles became the second team in NFL history to post 4000+ passing yards and 2400+ rushing yards in one season, joining the 1998 San Francisco 49ers (4256 passing, 2544 rushing).
Surging Stoppers … The Eagles defense showed a vast improvement over the last 12 games and the results have been evident on the scoreboard, as the team is holding opponents to just 19.4 points per game over that span, compared to 27.5 points through the first four games … The defense has not allowed opening-drive points in 11 straight games … The Eagles have held opponents under 100 yards rushing in 11 games in 2013, including 10 of the last 12 contests.
First 4 Weeks Last 12 Games
Punts forced per game 2.8 (32nd) 5.3
Quarterback rating 107.2 (27th) 76.2
Interceptions 2 (t-23rd) 17
Completion percentage 70.2% (31st) 57.8
TDs allowed per game 4.0 (t-29th) 2.3
Birdseed ... The Eagles became the first NFL team since the 1991 Buffalo Bills to lead the league in rushing while ranking last in time of possession (26:24) ... P Donnie Jones set a team record with a 40.5 net punting average this season and finished with the third-highest gross average (44.9) ... The Eagles were hit with just 95 penalties this season, the team's lowest total since being penalized 74 times in 2008 ... K Alex Henery has made nine field goals in a row, including a 51-yarder, a 49-yarder and a 47-yarder. For his career, Henery is 24 of 30 (80.0%) from 40-59 yards.
Re-writing the Record Book in 2013 … See below for a full list of Eagles records that were broken this season:
Single-Season Records – Team
Points – 442 (previous record was 439 in 2010)
Total Net Yards – 6676, (previous record was 6386 in 2011)
Touchdowns – 53, (previous record was 50 set in 1948)
Passing Yards – 4406 (previous record was 4380 set in 2009)
Fewest Turnovers – 19 (previous record was 22 set in 2003 and 2004)
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Single-Season Records – Individual
Rushing Yards – 1,607 by LeSean McCoy (previous record was 1,512 by Wilbert Montgomery in 1979)
Scrimmage Yards – 2,146 by LeSean McCoy (previous record was 2,104 by Brian Westbrook in 2007)
QB Rating – 119.2 by Nick Foles (previous record was 104.7 by Donovan McNabb in 2004)
Completion % - 64.04 by Nick Foles (previous record was 63.96 by Donovan McNabb in 2004)
*INT% - 0.63 by Nick Foles (previous record was 1.5% by Donovan McNabb in 2007) *
Punts downed inside the 20 – 33 by Donnie Jones (previous record was 31 by Jeff Feagles in 1993)
Net Punting Average – 40.5 by Donnie Jones (previous record was 39.0 by Sav Rocca in 2010)
* *
Single-Game Eagles Records
Passing touchdowns – 7 by Nick Foles on 11/3 at Oak. (tied an Eagles and NFL record)
QB rating – 158.3 by Nick Foles on 11/3 at Oak.
Completion percentage – 84% (21 of 25) by Nick Foles on 12/22 vs. Chi.
Rushing yards – 217 by LeSean McCoy on 12/8 vs. Det.
Punts downed inside the 20 – 7 by Donnie Jones on 12/1 vs. Arz.
Net Punting Average – 50.7 by Donnie Jones on 11/17 vs. Was.
