Talk about playing with rhythm.
The Eagles' offense exploded for 483 yards Sunday afternoon, riding backup quarterback Mark Sanchez's 202 yards through the air and running back LeSean McCoy's 117 yards on the ground to a 31-21 win over the Houston Texans.
Head coach Chip Kelly was a big fan of what he saw from his offense Sunday, essentially to a player, and it started with the backup quarterback's composure and preparation.
"I thought he had really good command of what we're doing," Kelly said of Sanchez.
"I've said since day one, you'd better have two quarterbacks in this league. We were fortunate that, when Nick did go down, we could bring Mark in.
"I don't think we missed a beat offensively."
Kelly is right. When Sanchez entered the game at the start of the second quarter, Eagles fans may have wondered what would come with starting quarterback Nick Foles out with a shoulder injury.
What came was success from all involved, including an explosive running game that compiled 190 yards on the afternoon. In the third quarter, the Eagles ran four plays for 70 yards, all run plays, capped off by an 8-yard touchdown run from running back Chris Polk.
Kelly said the drive wasn't designed that way, but it made sense to keep calling the run plays when they kept working. He said he felt the Eagles' up-tempo offense wore down the Texans' defense and opened up running lanes for the Eagles' rushers in the second half, and the backs stepped up to the plate.
"I thought we wore them down a little bit with our tempo," Kelly explained. "The one drive we had four runs for 70 and a touch. I think you could see the cumulative effects of it.
"I thought all three running backs ran really hard today. There wasn't a lot of dancing going on there. I thought they hit the hole, I thought we blocked really well."
And as the run game opened things up, Sanchez was able to find a groove through the air, helping Jeremy Maclin rack up his second straight game with at least 150 receiving yards.
Kelly said games like today - six catches, 158 yards and two touchdowns - were a big part of why the Eagles felt they needed to re-sign Maclin coming into this year.
"Just running big deep for us, we had a few good shots at (Maclin), and then he made a big catch (for the final score of the game)," Kelly said.
"I think he's made some real good sideline catches, clutch catches for us during the course of the year, and I think that's what we're coming to expect out of (Maclin)."
The all-around offensive success stretched essentially to the end of the game, when the Eagles engineered the most dominating drive of the season. The offense composed a 15-play, 8:01 magnum opus that ended with Maclin's second touchdown of the afternoon to give the Eagles a 10-point lead with less than four minutes to play.
It was a masterful drive from Kelly and coordinator Pat Shurmur's offense, as the unit worked in running plays from McCoy and Polk before finding Maclin on an 8-yard toss with a perfectly-placed ball.
Kelly said the Eagles' final scoring drive of the game was a huge message from the offense.
"It was huge," he said. "We talked about it, when you're a good football team you've got to be a good four-minute football team, and I thought that we did a great job of not only taking time off the clock but coming away with a touchdown to make it a two-score game.
"I thought that whole drive just kind of told you about how we're coming together a little bit offensively, and I think it bodes well for the future."
The Eagles are in Houston to take on the Texans at NRG Stadium. Philadelphia is looking to bounce back after last week's loss in Arizona ...
QB Mark Sanchez celebrating his second touchdown pass
WR and TE brotherly love!
TheIncrediblePolk scores!
WR Jeremy Maclin making the completion on Sanchez's first pass of the game
WR Jeremy Maclin catching the deep touchdown pass
RB Darren Sproles and QB Mark Sanchez with some brotherly love
Eagles fans in Houston!
QB Mark Sanchez warming up
QB Nick Foles handing the ball of to RB LeSean McCoy during warmups
Coming out to support in Houston!
Eagles players warming up before today's game
DE Vinny Curry warming up for today
Go Eagles!
T Jason Peters talking to QB Nick Foles during warmups
K Cody Parkey getting his leg loose
The Eagles players are ready for today
The rookie wide receivers before the game
TE Trey Burton taking some reps in warmups
Head coach Chip Kelly
Eagles fans welcoming the team in Houston
LB DeMeco Ryans getting the team pumped
Breaking it down before the game
WR Jeremy Maclin getting his hands ready for the game
C Jason Kelce, LB DeMeco Ryans, and WR Jeremy Maclin before the game
WR Josh Huff was the kick returner for today's game
CB Bradley Fletcher making the first quarter tackle
LB Connor Barwin enjoying his return to Houston
LB DeMeco Ryans making the tackle
LB Trent Cole staring into the backfield
LB Trent Cole diving for the ball
RB LeSean McCoy running the ball during the first quarter
WR Jordan Matthews celebrating his touchdown
WR Jeremy Maclin diving into the end zone!
QB Nick Foles making a roll out pass
RB LeSean McCoy turing up field
WR Jeremy Maclin making the deep reception
WR Josh Huff celebrating with WR Jeremy Maclin after the Maclin touchdown
DT Beau Allen and DE Brandon Bair in on the sack
The Eagles defense swarming the ball
TE Zach Ertz walking out for today's game
Texans RB Arian Foster and Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin shaking hands before the game
The captains for today's game
Head coach Chip Kelly offering some advice during the game
QB Nick Foles slinging the ball
The Eagles defensive line
DT Beau Allen and DE Brandon Bair celebrating the 1st half sack
DT Bennie Logan with the tackle
LB Mychal Kendricks with the hit and forced fumble
RB LeSean McCoy moving down field
C Jason Kelce leading the way
The Eagles defense swarming Fitzpatrick
LB Mychal Kendricks getting in the backfield
QB Mark Sanchez completing a DEEP pass after entering the game in the 2nd quarter
WR Jeremy Maclin having another huge first half performance
RB LeSean McCoy
K Cody Parkey with a made FG to give the Eagles the lead at the end of the 1st half
LB DeMeco Ryans with the tackle
LB DeMeco Ryans celebrating his big hit
CB Brandon Boykin with the tackle
WR Josh Huff running down field
QB Mark Sanchez with the pass
RB Darren Sproles breaking tackles
DE Cedric Thornton clogging up the line
WR Jordan Matthews with his eyes up field as he catches and runs
RB LeSean McCoy on the run
TE Brent Celek making the reception
A loyal Eagles fan in Houston
K Cody Parkey making his 1st FG attempt
C Jason Kelce making his return today
QB Mark Sanchez rolling out and slinging the ball
WR Jordan Matthews receives the ball on the crossing route
T Lane Johnson making the block
RB LeSean McCoy cutting up field
TE Zach Ertz waiting for the ball
RB Darren Sproles cutting in and out
Some brotherly love from the specialists
LB Connor Barwin with the sack
LB Connor Barwin celebrating his sack
DE Vinny Curry jumps on LB Connor Barwin's shoulders
RB Darren Sproles
P Donnie Jones with the boot
LB Brandon Graham staring into the backfield
More Eagles fans in Houston
RB LeSean McCoy
RB Chris Polk breaks through for a touchdown!
S Earl Wolff in press coverage
DE Vinny Curry very excited for LB Connor Barwin
LB Connor Barwin diving at Fitzpatrick
QB Mark Sanchez back in the pocket
RB Darren Sproles breaking tackles and gaining yards
RB Darren Sproles cutting across the field
RB Darren Sproles in open field
RB LeSean McCoy breaking through the line
QB Mark Sanchez staying in the pocket as JJ Watt dives
LB Brandon Graham reaching out for the the quarterback
RB Chris Polk having himself a game!
RB Chris Polk fighting for extra yards
Thanks for coming out and supporting, Eagles fans!
Barwinning
WR Jeremy Maclin with 2nd touchdown of the game!
LB DeMeco Ryans making plays on defense
WR Jeremy Maclin on the screen pass
QB Mark Sanchez scrambling out of the pocket
QB Mark Sanchez ready to throw on the move
LB Trent Cole fighting through blocks
RB LeSean McCoy dodging through the line
LB Mychal Kendricks grabbing on to the QB
LB Trent Cole stuffing the player at the line
RB LeSean McCoy looking for the hole in the line
QB Mark Sanchez hanging in the pocket to make the play
WR Jeremy Maclin on the catch and run
RB LeSean McCoy
TheIncrediblePolk making some powerful, downhill runs
RB LeSean McCoy looking for the best path
