As the time wound down on the Eagles' 45-21 win Monday night, quarterback Mark Sanchez and head coach Chip Kelly shared a few smiles and laughs on the sideline as backup quarterback Matt Barkley kneeled to end the game.
Sanchez's first start as a Philadelphia Eagle went so smoothly, he didn't even need to be on the field as the clock struck zero. It was just that kind of night.
The veteran quarterback finished the evening with 332 passing yards - the fourth-highest total of his career - and two touchdown passes, good for a quarterback rating of 102.5. It was a stellar performance in this, his first NFL start in nearly two calendar years.
Sanchez said he had nerves before the game, but he wasn't nervous. He was anxious. He knew what Monday Night Football felt like.
It had just been a while.
"I've been through a lot of that stuff before," Sanchez said after the game. "I talked about it during the week, but I've been through some tough times and I've been through some great times. I just tried to keep a level head, stay calm, rely on the guys around me, and at the end of the day it came through."
It came through in a big way. The Eagles' offensive line, which regained left guard Evan Mathis for the first time since Week 1 on Monday night, was able to open up big passing lanes for Sanchez to find a variety of targets.
Sanchez said the offensive line's dominating performance was a huge help in getting him good, solid throws from the pocket.
"There was a couple where we had plenty of time in the pocket," Sanchez explained. "Guys really pushed their guy to one side and really gave me a clear lane, and I got a chance to step up, get vertical in the pocket. And those ones feel the best, the ones where you move forward and you really just cut one loose. I think there was one to (Zach) Ertz, one to (Brent) Celek, one to Jordan (Matthews). A couple in there kind of got me going again, and those feel real good when you have time like that."
A few of those big, vertical passes in the pocket were completed to the rookie Jordan Matthews, who has quickly emerged as one of Sanchez's favorite targets in the passing game. Matthews exploded for a career-high 138 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches, seeing a team-high nine targets.
Sanchez said Matthews will acknowledge that a large part of his success can be attributed to the other weapons the Eagles have on offense, including wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and running back LeSean McCoy. But he said he also loves what Matthews does on his routes.
"Jordan just finds a way to get open," Sanchez said.
The Eagles hosted the Carolina Panthers in a Monday Night Football matchup ...
WR Jordan Matthews diving accross the goal line for the TOUCHDOWN
Eagles fans showing up early for some Monday Night Football
Members from all branches of United States service join the Eagles in the #EaglesSalute game opening ceremonies
Jeffrey Lurie joins fans for some tailgating outside Lincoln Financial Field
Jeffrey Lurie signing a fan's tailgate trailer
Eagles fans welcoming Jeffrey Lurie to their tailgate with big smiles
Jeffrey Lurie and a fan posing for a selfie
A group of happy fans hanging out with Jeffrey Lurie
C/G Julian Vandervelde preparing for the game
K Cody Parkey getting in some practice kicks before kickoff
LB Bryan Braman making a special teams tackle on the opening kick off
DE Cedric Thornton grabs the ball to gain possession for the Eagles
QB Mark Sanchez in his first start for the Philadelphia Eagles
K Cody Parkey hits a 39 yard field goal to put the Eagles up 3-0
United States servicemen lead the Philadelphia Eagles on the field for #EaglesSalute
SWOOP follows closely behind the servicemen being honored at the game as they run onto the field
LB Mychal Kendricks lines up with his sights on the Panthers QB
QB Mark Sanchez escapes a sack to complete a pass
RB Darren Sproles carries for the Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders make some noise for the team
A die-hard Eagles fan sports his green face for the team
Teammates celebrate with CB Cary Williams after he makes an interception
QB Mark Sanchez and G Evan Mathis work the field on an offensive drive
Eagles players stand side-by-side with current United States servicemen, holding the full field flag during the National Anthem
QB Mark Sanchez looks for RB Darren Sproles as he makes a run upfield
RB Darren Sproles celebrates a touchdown for the Eagles
TE Zach Ertz congratulates RD Darren Sproles on a touchdown play
CB Cary Williams surrounded by his teammates
G/T Matt Tobin makes contact with a Panthers lineman
RB Darren Sproles solutes in honor of #EaglesSalute
TEs Brent Celek and Zach Ertz join RB Darren Sproles in celebration
LB Connor Barwin and DT Bennie Logan work together to take down a Panthers player
CB Brandon Boykin in the mix with the team
WR Jordan Matthews carries the ball into the end zone for a touchdown
QB Mark Sanchez congratulating WR Jordan Matthews on his touchdown
LB Casey Matthews takes down a Panthers player
RB Darren Sproles cuts past a Panthers defenseman
An Eagles Cheerleader pumps up the crowd
LB Connor Barwin goes airborne to sack the Panthers QB
LB Connor Barwin celebrating with the crowd
WR Jordan Matthews gaining yards for the Eagles
An Eagles Cheerleader psyching up the fans in the stands
RB LeSean McCoy breaking free for a run
P Donnie Jones punting for the Eagles
LB Brandon Graham grabbing a Panthers player to take him down
Another carry by RB Darren Sproles
WR Jordan Matthews on the move for the Eagles
LB Trent Cole catches the leg of the Panthers QB to break up a play
LB Trent Cole with a QB sack
RB Darren Sproles crossing the line for a touchdown
Eagles President Don Smolenski on the sidelines
Eagles celebrating another touchdown
TE Brent Celek takes control of the ball
The Eagles defense pounces on a Panthers player
The Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders perform for the stadium
SWOOP dons camouflage gear for #EaglesSalute
Eagles fans supporting the team
An Eagles fan showing his support of #EaglesSalute with a camouflage baseball cap
On the sidelines Eagles fans celebrate a big lead over the Panthers
LB Mychal Kendricks dances after a QB sack
LB Mychal Kendricks celebrates a stop
Another sack from the Eagles defense
TE Zach Ertz blocks for WR Jordan Matthews on an offensive drive
S Chris Prosinski keeping an eye on a Panthers player
CB Bradley Fletcher intercepts the ball and runs it in for a touchdown
LB Connor Barwin with a QB sack
LB Connor Barwin flying high after a sack
S Nate Allen leaps into the air for an interception
The United States Marines showcase their rifle skills at halftime
CB Bradley Fletcher celebrating his touchdown
Fly Eagles Fly!
Servicemen hold the full field flag for the National Anthem
Flares go off above Lincoln Financial Field during the National Anthem
Fireworks erupt marking the start of the game
An Eagles banner flies across Lincoln Financial Field
CB Bradley Fletcher celebrates his touchdown
LB Trent Cole going in for a QB sack
LB Mychal Kendricks charges the Panthers QB
LB Mychal Kendricks in celebratory dance
CB Bradley Fletcher with the ball
CB Bradley Fletcher running an intercepted ball
CB Bradley Fletcher celebrating his touchdown
S Malcolm Jenkins and LB Emmanuel Acho take down a Panthers player
The Eagles on defense
The Panthers QB running from the defense
LB Connor Barwin celebrating after a sack
LBs Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham congratulate each other
Eagles fans cheering with excitement
DE Cedric Thornton getting ready to make a big play
WR Jordan Matthews taking the ball down field
LB Trent Cole running down the line of scrimmageÂ
DE Fletcher Cox reaching in and disturbing the Panthers' QBÂ
LB Connor Barwin with another sack!
LB Connor Barwin had 3.5 sacks on the night
S Nate Allen making a late first half interception
DE Vinny Curry getting pressure on the quarterback
TE Brent Celek throwing out the stiff arm
TE Brent Celek busting through tackles
WR Jordan Matthews rocking the #EaglesSalute gloves
WR Riley Cooper slipping down after making an athletic catch
WR Jeremy Maclin running after the catch
RB LeSean McCoy breaking through tackles
QB Mark Sanchez making a pass
A touchdown pass from Sanchez to Matthews capped off the signature drive of Sanchez's evening - a 10-play, 91-yard march down Broad Street that put the Eagles up 24-7 and essentially sealed the deal.
Sanchez said that the drive was one of his favorite parts of the night, in large part because of how fast the offense was rolling. The Eagles marched 91 yards in just over three and a half minutes, at one point out-running the referees, who had to stop the game to reset the ball.
"We were rolling, huh?" Sanchez said with a smile after the game.
The quarterback said he had been doing extra running during the week to get a handle on the Eagles' famous tempo offense so that he didn't feel out of shape when he had to play a full, 60-minute game.
"It was fun," he continued. "It makes it exciting, going that quick. We sure don't win the time of possession, but it was so fun."
At the end of his last answer, Sanchez couldn't help but shake his head and smile. It was clear how much fun the quarterback had leading the Eagles victory; almost as much fun as the fans had watching it.
"It was just a great night," he said.
