On a second-and-3 in the second quarter of last Sunday's game against the Saints, the Eagles lined up in what a number of players referred to as the "New Orleans" formation.

Based on the old Emory and Henry formation from the 1950s - hey, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg recalled seeing elements of the Wildcat while watching film of the Missouri-Oklahoma game from 1942, the Eagles lined up with just three players along the interior line - left guard Nick Cole, center Jamaal Jackson and right guard Max Jean-Gilles. Split out wide left were tackle Jason Peters, tight end Alex Smith and wide receiver Kevin Curtis. Split out wide right were tackle Winston Justice, tight end Brent Celek and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

DeSean Jackson and Brian Westbrook were lined up in the backfield and DeSean Jackson took the direct snap for a 4-yard gain and a first down.

"I thought it was pretty creative," center Jamaal Jackson said. "It was to get guys out of place on the defensive side of the ball. It pretty much gets all of our playmakers on the field at one time. I thought it went well. Of course, we have more than one play out of it. We were only able to show one particular play. It got us a first down."

Now, Peters and Justice were not eligible receivers. Peters has experience lining up wide when he was a tight end at Arkansas. Justice said that it was the first time he was ever split out wide on a play. Justice has only been playing football since his junior year of high school.

If the Eagles bring the formation back this week against the Chiefs, there could possibly another playmaker to put in the backfield in quarterback Michael Vick.

"We've been doing certain Wildcat plays here and there with DeSean and West (Brian Westbrook). I think we'll see a lot more quarterback plays for Vick to throw off the defenses a little bit," Jackson added. "When he's in there, he's a quarterback - first and foremost. Whatever he can do with his legs is a plus."

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 5:47 p.m., September 26