Starting at free safety in his first NFL game, Macho Harris took a few moments to soak it all in.

"When I walked out there I was a little emotional because it was my first start in a professional league," Harris said. "I dreamed of playing this game on Sundays, so it was emotional for me in the beginning of the game, but other than that, it was great."

But Harris didn't allow himself too much time to get wrapped up in the fact that he was a fifth-round pick starting on a defense that last played in the NFC Championship game.

"The first play, as a matter of fact," Harris said, when asked when he was able to overcome his emotions. "When I got on the field, I was like, let's play ball.

"It was all natural. The pause came in early in the week when they broke the news to me. That's when I was like, wow. It hit me all at once. But other than that, I was settled in. I was ready to go."

Harris said one of the keys to his comfort level in the defense against the Panthers was receiving an important message on Saturday night from defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.

"Coach McDermott stood me up and he told me I didn't have to be perfect," Harris said. "He basically was giving me that comfort to just go out there and play ball.

"The rest of the guys stood up and said 'We got your back, don't worry about it.' When you got a group of guys like that, you can't do anything but to go hard for them."

After a missed tackle on the opening drive, Harris rebounded well, including great coverage on Steve Smith on a play that led to a game-changing Sheldon Brown interception.

"Coach (McDermott) does a great job of putting us in great positions," Harris said. "That's what I was doing, playing my responsibility.

"When I saw Steve Smith coming across the middle I had a feeling they were going to go to him. I tried to hug him up, the ball was behind him a little bit, I tried to pick it but it was too fast, then Sheldon got it."

Harris said the chemistry on defense is one of the unit's true strengths. He's already working well with fellow safety Quintin Mikell.

"O yeah, we always talk," Harris said. "Try to keep me on my game, that's what we try to do. (Mikell) is a great player, and I'd love to follow his footsteps and turn out to be a player like him."

The suffocating performance from the Eagles defense was no doubt an encouraging start, said Harris.

"This is a great start right here," he said. "You couldn't ask for anything better, but we have to continue this momentum and continue to move forward."

But Harris has the rest of the week to prepare for the Saints. Tonight, he can enjoy the moment.

"It's a blessing to be out here," Harris said. "Playing on Sundays has always been my dream since I was a kid and I feel really blessed. The outcome was great, we played Eagles football and I'm glad to be a part of it."

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 8:50 p.m., September 13