MIAMI – The Eagles, in the years with Andy Reid as the head coach, had a 72-17 record when their turnover ratio was positive heading into Sunday's game at SunLife Stadium against Miami. It is a simple, yet very telling, statistic.

So it was no surprise, looking up at the scoreboard following the Eagles' 26-10 win over the Dolphins, that the Eagles had the advantage in the key statistic: Turnover differential. The Eagles forced three in the first half, added a safety in the second half, and turned those takeaways into 17 points.

"It makes all the difference In the world," said cornerback Asante Samuel. "We were flying around the football today."

The first takeaway happened when safety Kurt Coleman read quarterback Matt Moore's deep throw down the middle of the field intended for wide receiver Devone Bess and leaped up for an interception, his fourth of the season. Coleman's 35-yard return to the Miami 1-yard line set up an Eagles touchdown to put Philadelphia ahead, 14-7.

"I read Matt and got into position and was blessed to make the play," said Coleman. "We needed something there and it seemed like we had a feeding frenzy after that. It was fun out there."

Then Samuel, who was brilliant in the game, chased down Bess on a crossing route, raked the football loose and then pounced on the pigskin, and the Eagles offense took over on the Miami 34-yard line. Four plays later, Alex Henery kicked a 40-yard field goal and the Eagles led, 17-7.

Two takeaways, 10 points and a world of difference for an Eagles team in desperate need of a victory.

Make no mistake about it, the defense led the way in this one, holding Miami to 203 total net yards, recording 9 sacks, limiting Miami to 3 third-down conversions on 15 attempts and pitching a shutout on 3 Miami fourth-down plays.

A hit from linebacker Brian Rolle knocked out starting quarterback Matt Moore in the third quarter. The Eagles also held Miami's offense twice on fourth-and-1 running plays, including one in the fourth quarter when quarterback J.P. Losman botched a snap on fourth and inches and was touched down short of the first down. It was an important play to stem Miami's momentum early in the period, one that has given the Eagles a lot of trouble this season.

"We fell behind 7-0 and nobody got down, nobody lost their focus," said Coleman. "We knew if we played our game, played with confidence and discipline, that we would be OK. We were. That's what we've wanted all year. We're getting better every week. We feel that. In this game, it was just the way we wanted it. All of those sacks, some takeaways, getting off the field … that's just the way we like to do things."

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