Entering Sunday's game with New Orleans, the Eagles were averaging just 70 yards per game on the ground, far from what was expected of the team's talented group of runners. There have been flashes here and there during the first four weeks of what the running game could be, but Sunday marked the first time that they were able to put it all together.
And boy was it fun to watch.
The Eagles consistently fed the running backs during Sunday's 39-17 win over New Orleans, racking up a whopping 186 yards on the ground. Each of the three running backs averaged at least 4.2 yards per carry and DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews each scored a touchdown as the 2015 version of the three-headed monster finally poked out all three of its heads.
"When we run the ball better and we're balanced, we have a better opportunity to stay on the field," head coach Chip Kelly explained after the game. "We ran the ball better and we converted on third down so we could stay on the field."
That balanced attack allowed the Eagles to play more offensive snaps (79-69), but win the time of possession battle as well. Philadelphia played at a controlled tempo for most of the game, spreading the ball among all three running backs.
"I was able to get into a little rhythm," Murray said. "Ryan came in and did a good job, Sproles came in and did a good job as well and the offensive line played great today.
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 were successful on third downs, so I think that was good for us to continue to keep the drives moving forward, but it was awesome. Obviously the play-calling and getting different guys the ball in different formations and whatnot, I think that was good on Chip's part."
While Murray served as the Eagles' workhorse with 20 carries for 83 yards, Mathews had another strong performance, piling up 73 yards on just eight carries.
"I think mixing it up like that is good," Mathews said. "Everyone feeding off of each other, that's why I signed up. There are a lot of guys here who can make big plays, and you saw that today. We can only get better. It doesn't stop here. We can only get better.
"We feed off of each other – every single person from the receivers to running backs, tight ends, quarterbacks to the offensive line. We all feed off of each other when we start making plays. I think it really sets the tempo … I think it's just whoever is in there in that moment. DeMarco made some big plays, Sproles made some big plays, I was making plays. Everyone on the offense was doing their part. We were all just feeding off of each other and doing work."
While the running backs will get most of the headlines for the big-time rushing numbers on Sunday, the Eagles' offensive line also stepped up and gave its best performance of the season to get the running game going. The hard work up front did not go unnoticed.
"(The Saints have) a great defense," Murray said. "I think our offensive line played great today, so we have to give credit to those guys and Coach (Jeff) Stoutland."
"They always play great," said Mathews. "They did all the hard work down there in the trenches. They battled every down, so they deserve all the credit today."
Sunday's win was a big step in the right direction for an Eagles ground attack that is seeking to prove that the first four weeks of the season won't define what his team can accomplish. Now, the task at hand is to learn from what went well and what didn't, and look to build upon the win on Monday night against the New York Giants.
"Obviously it was a big win and we needed it, but we need to just reflect on it, watch the film and just learn from the things we didn't do so well," said Murray. "It was a great win, a great team win."
