On Thursday night, the Eagles hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third preseason game of 2014 ...
K Cody Parkey
Pre-game huddle
All hands in!
DB Davon Morgan
Rb Henry Josey
WR Will Murphy
WR Riley Cooper
Qb Mark Sanchez
QB Nick Foles
Cb Cary Williams
Head coach Chip Kelly
Some pregame fun with the Harleysville Eagles
Eagles games are fun for all ages
WR Damaris Johnson
RB LeSean McCoy
QB Nick Foles
RB LeSean McCoy
A look at the new Miller Lite Phlite Deck
Eagles fans cheer for the home team!
A picture perfect night for football
LB Trent Cole
RB LeSean McCoy
C Jason Kelce
RB LeSean McCoy
S Malcolm Jenkins
The Eagles swarm to the ball
WR Jeremy Maclin
WR Damaris Johnson
K Alex Henery
G/T Allen Barbre
WR Jeremy Maclin
QB Nick Foles
WR Jordan Matthews
RB Darren Sproles
SWOOP takes the field during halftime
The mascots were no match for the Southampton Knights
Fly Eagles Fly!
A big smile for this #Eagles fan
BattleOfPA
RB Matthew Tucker
Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland
QB Mark Sanchez
RB Kenjon Barner
QB Mark Sanchez
RB Henry Josey
RB Matthew Tucker
RB Matthew Tucker
RB Matthew Tucker
The bright lights of Lincoln Financial Field
LB Marcus Smith II
DE Vinny Curry
WR Damaris Johnson
RB Henry Josey
WR B.J. Cunningham
LB Travis Long
QB G.J. Kinne
There was no time for brotherly love at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night.
The Eagles' starters were dominant on both offense and defense taking a 17-0 lead into halftime before the Eagles' backups continued to have success with the Steelers' starters in a 31-21 win in the all-important dress rehearsal before the start of the regular season.
The unveiling of the newly revitalized Lincoln Financial Field was picture perfect as running back LeSean McCoy caught a screen pass from quarterback Nick Foles and ran 22 yards to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead with 6:12 left in the first quarter. It was the final play of the night for McCoy, who went to the locker room to have X-rays taken on his right thumb but fortunately they came back negative.
Foles led the Eagles on a second touchdown drive in the second quarter completing 6 of 6 pass attempts on the series before running back Darren Sproles cashed in with a 1-yard run. Foles finished 19 of 29 for 179 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper returned to action after being sidelined with injuries and combined for nine catches and 68 yards. Maclin briefly exited the game in the second quarter after falling down on a route, but returned on the next series and immediately caught a pass.
The Eagles' defense, meanwhile, corralled Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the offense forcing an interception by Nolan Carroll II after a blitz by linebacker Mychal Kendricks pressured the Pro Bowl quarterback. In the first half, the Eagles outgained the Steelers 251-96 and allowed Pittsburgh to convert fewer than 50 percent of their third-down opportunities.
The Steelers kept their starters on offense and defense in the game into the third quarter, but that didn't matter to the Eagles. Quarterback Mark Sanchez led a pair of third-quarter touchdown drives that ended with 1-yard runs by Matthew Tucker, who has four rushing touchdowns in the preseason. Sanchez was an efficient 7 of 9 for 85 yards.
Pittsburgh finally got on the board with 4:07 left in the third quarter when Roethlisberger connected with tight end Heath Miller for a 27-yard touchdown. The Steelers scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns - a 33-yard reception by Darrius Heyward-Bey and a 3-yard catch by Martavis Bryant – both from backup Bruce Gradkowski.
