Eagles Earn First Win of the Season in 24-17 Victory Over Jets

The Eagles were winless, couldn't block or move the ball and had spent most of their first two games trying to find something remotely resembling a rhythm.

The Jets were undefeated, playing well in all phases and coming off a dominant road performance against Andrew Luck and the Colts.

And yet it was the Eagles who led the Jets during most of a 24-17 win, holding a double-digit advantage for the majority of the game.

But all of those questions about the offense? They still remain.

The Eagles won this one with defense (three second-half takeaways) and special teams (punt return TD).

They had just 232 total yards of offense and only 53 in a scoreless second half.

Key plays
Rookie inside linebacker Jordan Hicks stood out in his first start, recovering a Brandon Marshall fumble and intercepting a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass in the fourth quarter when the Jets were gaining momentum.

The key play early that gave the Eagles some separation was Darren Sproles' jaw-dropping, video game-like 89-yard punt return touchdown in the Eagles' 21-point second quarter. Sproles bounced off multiple Jets defenders and shimmied his way up and across the field to give them a two-score lead that didn't go back to single-digits until 2:32 remained. Most long returns involve numerous key blocks, but this one was mostly Sproles.

The Eagles had been waiting for a special teams or defensive score to give the offense a much-needed boost. They scored 11 TDs on returns last season but had none in the first two weeks.

QB report
Sam Bradford did not have an impressive game, so if you're counting at home that's two decent quarters out of 12 this season.

Bradford was a check-down machine again, barely looking deep and completing just two passes of 20-plus yards. This is a real issue. Bradford appears averse to contact and is throwing the ball in the flat almost instantly. Routes just are not developing deep down the field. You want a QB to take what's given to him, but if Bradford and Chip Kelly don't open this offense up, the three-and-outs and quick drives will continue to pile up.

Bradford was 14 of 28 passing for 118 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. He averaged 4.2 yards per attempt.

His TD was a 23-yard wheel route to running back Ryan Mathews.

Run game improves
With DeMarco Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury, Mathews got the start and rushed 23 times for 106 yards. Mathews rumbled for 27 yards on one first-quarter run to equal the Eagles' season-long rush.

Mathews' stone hands are becoming a problem, though. He dropped two more passes on the day to give him three on the season, and one of the drops against the Jets was a 10-yard route that Mathews could have possibly taken the distance because there was nobody in front of him.

And Mathews had a bad fumble in the fourth quarter, having the ball punched out of his arms and up into the air, where a Jets defender caught it. The Jets started that drive in Eagles territory but it ended when Hicks came up with the timely pick.

Sproles also received double-digit carries and scored a goal-line TD.

Credit the offensive line for opening up many more holes than they did the first two weeks.

Assessing the secondary
In his first action of the season, rookie cornerback Eric Rowe had a breakup on Jets WR Devin Smith and later intercepted a ball intended for him in the end zone.

Walter Thurmond made several nice plays down the field, and was impressively able to keep both feet in bounds on a fourth-quarter INT deep in Eagles territory. Thurmond possessed the ball, planted one foot and dragged the other.

Malcolm Jenkins continues to make plays and sure tackles. He's had a strong season save for two dropped INTs.

Byron Maxwell didn't have a true rebound game, but he wasn't victimized as badly as he had been in the first two weeks. Marshall had 10 catches and a TD, but most of his routes were underneath (110 receiving yards, 11 per catch).

Injuries
Murray missed the game, as did Kiko Alonso (knee), Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) and Taylor Hart (shoulder).

Left tackle Jason Peters left the game in the fourth quarter and didn't return.

Starting right guard Andrew Gardner left the game with a right foot injury and did not return. Matt Tobin took his place.

Safety Chris Maragos also exited with a left knee contusion and did not return. That led to some playing time for Rowe and E.J. Biggers, who allowed an end-zone grab by Jeremy Kerley in the fourth quarter.