Sunday's game was one that the Eagles absolutely had to win, even if head coach Chip Kelly won't admit to thinking in such absolute terms.
A loss would have dropped the team to 1-4, with all four against NFC opponents and two against NFC East rivals. Even in a division that currently boasts the lowest winning percentage in the league, it would have been a crushing blow to the team's playoff hopes. But instead, the Eagles coasted to a 39-17 victory, one that could have been decided by an even larger margin were it not for a garbage time Drew Brees touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks as time expired.
At 2-3, the Eagles have the possibility of entering a virtual four-way tie in the NFC East, pending the outcomes of games involving the Cowboys and Giants, both 2-2, later in the day. But Kelly isn't focused on the records of other teams in the division, and he's certainly not interested in breaking down esoteric NFL tie-breaking procedures.
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
"We're not (worried about) conference or division. We had to win a football game," he said after the home rout against New Orleans. "In our mindset as a team, we had to come out and play on all three phases."
And that's exactly what the Eagles did. Their offense was as precise and explosive as it has been all season, racking up 519 total yards, the third most in any game since Kelly arrived in 2013. Sam Bradford threw for 333 yards, completed 32 of his 45 passes (71.1 percent) and tossed two touchdowns after throwing a pair of red zone interceptions early in the game. And on the ground, DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles combined for 183 yards on 33 carries (5.5 yards per carry), finding pay dirt twice in the process.
"I thought (Bradford) did a great job," Kelly said. "When we run the ball better and are more balanced, we have an opportunity to stay on the field. And that's what we did, we ran the ball better and converted third downs so we could stay on the field.
"I think you have to give credit to our offensive line. They did a really nice job, and it opened up some things for our guys and let our running backs get started."
The defense was relentless, sacking Brees five times and forcing four turnovers. Two of those takeaways came courtesy of defensive end Fletcher Cox, who ended the day with six tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage, and two forced fumbles, one of which he recovered. His three sacks made him one of just 18 players in franchise history ever to hit that mark in a game.
"(Saints head coach) Sean (Payton) does such a good job of spreading the ball around to different guys, so it was a big emphasis this week for us, more than any team we've played thus far, to contain the running backs in the passing game," said Kelly, whose defense allowed seven combined catches for 11 yards from New Orleans' backfield. "Fletcher has played really, really well for us in the three years I've been here. Sometimes it seems like sacks come in bunches. … He played a heck of a game today."
Kicker Caleb Sturgis, despite missing an extra point in the third quarter, connected on all four field goals he attempted. And because the offense was so effective, Donnie Jones' services were only needed for one punt, which netted 59 yards.
The Eagles can get back to .500 with a win against the New York Giants next Monday in prime time. That game also has the potential to propel the team into first place in the division for the first time all season, or at very least put it within striking distance of the lead. Just don't expect Chip Kelly to be scoreboard-watching on Sunday.
