Here are some post-game notes following Sunday's win at Carolina ...
Opening Day Dominance: After defeating the Panthers 38-10, the Eagles have won their last two opening games by a combined score of 76-13 (they defeated the Rams 38-3 to open the 2008 season).
Triple Threat:The Eagles scored an offensive, defensive, and special teams touchdown in the same game for the first time since 12/24/94 at Cincinnati (Herschel Walker – 95-yard kickoff return; Michael Zordich – 18-yard interception return; James Joseph – 7-yard touchdown catch. Zordich is currently a defensive coaching intern for the team).
Forcing the Issue: The Eagles defense forced seven turnovers (five interceptions, two fumbles), which was the highest total since they forced seven at St. Louis on 1/2/00. It is also the highest interception total since 9/30/96 vs. Dallas, when they also posted five ... After allowing a 70-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession, the Eagles held the Panthers to just 99 net yards and 3 points ... The defense also held the Panthers to just 18.8% (3/16) on third-down conversions and recorded five sacks.
Brown Delivers On Time: CB Sheldon Brown notched two interceptions, the 15th and 16th of his career. His first led to a David Akers field goal and the second led to a Brent Celek touchdown. Of Brown's 16 interceptions, 13 have led to scoring drives ... It was Brown's second-career two-interception game (10/2/05 at KC), and the first time an Eagle did so since Lito Sheppard snared two on 10/8/06 vs. Dallas.
Action Jackson: WR DeSean Jackson broke off an 85-yard punt return for a TD, the second of his career and the second-longest in team history (Vai Sikahema, 87 yards on 11/22/92 at NYG) ... It marked the second opening-day punt return for a touchdown by an Eagle (Wally Henry's 57-yarder on 9/3/78 vs. LA Rams).
Moving Up 36 West: RB Brian Westbrook played in his 100th regular season game as an Eagle, tying Wilbert Montgomery for third place in team history among running backs. They trail Tom Woodeshick (111) and Keith Byars (105) ... Westbrook scored his 29th career receiving touchdown, moving past Fred Barnett and into 10th place in team history. It also marked his 67th career touchdown, tying Tommy McDonald for third place in team history. He trails Harold Carmichael (79) and Steve Van Buren (77).
Big Game Hunter: DE Trent Cole sacked and forced a fumble by Panthers QB Jake Delhomme, which was recovered by DE Victor Abiamiri for a touchdown. It marked Cole's 35.5th career sack, which tied him with William Fuller for seventh place in team history ... It also marked the first touchdown of Abiamiri's life.
Super Five: QB Donovan McNabb rushed for 27 yards and his 27th career touchdown. He now has 3,136 career rushing yards, moving past Tom Sullivan (3,135) and into ninth place in team history. McNabb also threw for two touchdowns, marking the 24th time in his career (regular and postseason) that he has rushed for a touchdown and thrown a touchdown pass in the same game.
Living the Dream: LB Akeem Jordan notched his first-career sack and his first-career interception, marking the first time an Eagles linebacker did so in the same game since 12/37/07 when Stewart Bradley did so in a win at New Orleans.
Magnum TE: TE Brent Celek grabbed a 9-yard touchdown pass from McNabb in the second quarter, marking his fifth in the last five games (including playoffs).
Macho Man: FS Macho Harris became the first Eagles rookie to start at safety on opening day since Wes Hopkins on 9/3/83 at San Francisco. Randy Logan also started on 9/16/73 vs. St. Louis. Harris also became the first Eagles rookie defensive player to start on opening day since DT Corey Simon on 9/3/00 at Dallas.
Birdseed: K David Akers played in his 157th regular season game as an Eagle, tying Guy Morriss for 6th place on the team's all-time list. Akers drilled a 48-yard field goal, his second-longest on opening day (50 yards - 9/9/01 vs. St. Louis) ... DE Darren Howard registered his 17th and 18th sacks as an Eagle, moving past Brandon Whiting and into 20th place in team annals.
