Darren Sproles on his 65-yards punt return in the first quarter. Photo by Pete Lerro/contrastphotography.com

Every once in a while we all have one of those days where everything goes our way. Daily number hits, unexpected raise, a new love comes into your life…it’s a day that does not happen very often.

The Eagles had one of those days…well nights…Monday night on Monday Night Football against the Carolina Panthers at the Linc.

The final score was 45-21 with the Eagles improving to 7-2 on the season.

If this was a boxing match, the Eagles scored a first round knockout against the Panthers who dropped to 3-6-1 but incredibly are only one game out of the NFC South.

“The defense and special team put them on their heels early,” left guard Evan Mathis said after returning to the lineup since week one. “That really got the momentum going in our direction. That (beginning) helped set the pace for the rest of the game.”

The rest of the game had no real strategy. It was simply blow after blow by all three Eagles units that had the Panthers staggered by early in the second quarter.

* The Eagles caused turnovers on Carolina’s first two possessions bolting out to a 10-0 lead.

* Darren Sproles took the Panthers first punt and ran it back 65 yards for a touchdown. “It line I followed opened up like the Red Sea,” Sproles said with a laugh after the game, talking about the return. “That’s what happened on that play.”

* In the first half alone the Eagles sacked Carolina Panthers quarterback five times with three being credited to Connor Barwin. The Birds ended with nine for the game. Barwin ended with 3.5 sacks, eight total tackles including three tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries.

Cam Newton took a beating all night…Connor Barwin (98) sacked Newton 3.5 times. Photo by Pete Lerro/contrastphotography.com

“I don’t know if there is any other way to say it other than it’s really fun to start a game like that,” rookie defensive tackle Beau Allen said. “We were all pretty hyped from the get go. And when those good things happen, the ball rolls your way from the moment of the first kick off, it’s all really fun.”

* The Eagles secondary picked off Newton three times in the first half with Bradley Fletcher returning one 34 yards for a touchdown.

* In the Panthers first drive of the second half, Brandon Graham and Barwin combined to sack Newton, strip him of the ball and set up a score (LeSean McCoy) to put the Eagles up 38-7.

Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez, who was making his first start replacing injured Nick Foles who was injured last week, was 20 of 37 for 332 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions or lost fumbles. He was sacked just once.

Mark Sanchez made his first start since 2012 a good one. Photo by Pete Lerro/contrastphotography.com

Mathis said Sanchez was ready but burying the opponent early was a big help.

“I’m sure he was ready for any challenge that would be thrown at him,” Mathis said. “But for any of us it helps when you play a total team game, it helps everyone.”

Right guard Matt Tobin talked about the effect the Eagles special teams and defense had on the game.

“Special teams…defense…we started fast in every faze of the game,” said Tobin, who moved from left guard, where he had been playing for Mathis, to right guard to replace injured Todd Herremans. “Everyone was playing well. They had some miscues and we took advantage of it. Everything just kept coming our way. Some days just work that way.”

Eagles rookie Jordan Matthews led all receivers with seven catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He was followed by veteran tight end Brent Celek who hauled in five catches for 116 yards.
The Eagles running game did not exist. The Birds totaled 37 yards on 23 carries as a team, but ran the ball into the end zone twice. McCoy had just 19 yards on 12 carries and a score. Sproles had one carry for an eight-yard touchdown.

Tobin said the Panthers were not going to let McCoy beat them and used their best player to make that happen.

“Their linebackers are smart and (Luke) Kuechly is a very smart player,” Tobin said. “Sometimes it seemed like he knew what play was coming. Good players figure that stuff out.”

Cam Newton was 25 of 40 for 306 yards with two touchdown passes, three interceptions and of course the nine sacks.

His main target all night was Greg Olsen who had six catches for 119 yards. Kelvin Benjamin caught touchdown passes of 21 and 40 yards in garbage time.

The four-year veteran also fumbled twice losing one of them.
Leading the sack brigade was Barwin who had 3.5 followed by Brandon Graham (1.5), Mychal Kendricks, Trent Cole, Fletcher Cox and Vinny Curry.

Tobin and the rest of the Eagles know they will have to run the ball well to have success against Green Bay at Lambeau Field.

“Hopefully we can get that going next week.”