Game Recap: Eagles Top Jaguars 28-27
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Note: Stay tuned for a post-game article, including quotes from players and coaches.
The Eagles held on for a 28-27 win over the Jaguars, with five David Akers field goals propelling the Birds to victory. Michael Vick and Martell Mallett scored the Eagles two touchdowns, each coming on the ground.
The Eagles first string defense was dominant, as the Jaguars failed to pick up a first down while the Birds’ starters were in. Jacksonville first scored late in the second quarter when Luke McCown hit Troy Williamson for a 73-yard touchdown. The Jags found paydirt again on their next drive as McCown found John Matthews for a 30-yard strike. Jacksonville tacked on a Josh Scobee field goal to close the half after Michael Vick threw an interception to Michael Coe.
Kevin Kolb was 6-of-11 for 95 yards, but couldn’t find the endzone as two drives stalled in the red zone. DeSean Jackson caught two passes for 47 yards, while Jeremy Maclin caught a pair for 32 yards. Vick was 7-of-12 for 105 yards and an interception. The backup ran for 45 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
Jacksonville’s David Garrard completed 3-of-5 passes for 12 yards. Luke McCown connected on 6-of-7 for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles opened the preseason in a fitting way. Kevin Kolb fired a strike to the left for DeSean Jackson on a slant route, and Jackson broke it for a 21 yard gain. Kolb was sharp on the first drive, also hitting Jeremy Maclin over the middle for a 29 yard gain and scrambling for a first down before the Birds eventually settled for a field goal. Akers’ 29-yard kick gave Philadelphia a 3-0 lead after an 8 play, 65-yard drive.
The Birds got the ball back quickly as the defense forced a three and out. Again Kolb made key plays, stepping up towards the line of scrimmage before finding Brent Celek for 12 yards on 3rd and 9. Kolb also hit Jackson for a gain of 26 after sliding away from pressure through the inside of the line.
Philadelphia stalled in the redzone again though, this time taking a 32-yard field goal from the left foot of Akers to stretch their advantage to 6-0. The Eagles second drive took 5:25 off the clock, as Philadelphia gained 53 yards on 12 plays.
Once again the Eagles defense forced a three and out, highlighted by Dimitri Patterson’s pass defense on 3rd down. Kevin Kolb’s night ended during the middle of the team’s third series, and Michael Vick made a splash on his first play.
The backup quarterback flung it deep for Riley Cooper, as the duo connected for 46 yards. A few plays later, Vick fumbled after a sack by Derrick Harvey. Anthony Smith recovered for the Jaguars, who left their first string offense in against the Eagles’ second string defense.
The Jaguars were able to pick up a first down and move the ball to the Eagles 33-yardline before going for it on 4th and 3. A pair of Eagles rookies would shine on the ensuing play. Brandon Graham came off the edge to pressure Garrard, delivering a jarring hit as the quarterback got rid of the ball. Mike Sims-Walker had it in his hands for a first down, until Kurt Coleman separated him from the ball forcefully.
The Birds settled for another Akers field goal and a 9-0 lead after a 10 play, 53 yard drive during which Vick connected with Eldra Buckley twice for 24 yards.
The Jaguars finally found a rhythm offensively, with Luke McCown launching a pass downfield for Troy Williamson on a 73-yard touchdown. Joselio Hanson was in coverage on the play, but found himself a few yards behind Williamson and couldn’t close to make a play. The strike cut the Eagles lead to 9-7.
The Eagles answered with a touchdown of their own, as Vick scrambled to the left for a 10-yard score. The 6 play, 65-yard drive was made possible by a 33-yard pass interference penalty on Don Carey that kept the Eagles on the field after a failed third down conversion. Vick’s score put Philadelphia on top 16-7.
Jacksonville struck back with a 30-yard pass from McCown to John Matthews to cut the deficit to 16-14.
The Eagles following drive was all Michael Vick, for better and worse. The Birds took over with 41 seconds left in the half, and Vick scrambled for 20 yards on the first play. On the next play, Vick escaped the pocket and threw across his body on the run, delivering it right to the hands of Jaguars cornerback Michael Coe.
Coe’s 43 yard return allowed Jacksonville to get into position for a field goal as the half expired. Josh Scobee’s 36-yard attempt was true, and the Jaguars took a 17-16 lead into the locker room. At halftime, the Eagles dominated the time of possession, with a 22:13 to 7:47 edge.
Deji Karim’s 68-yard kick return to the Eagles 31-yardline set the Jaguars up for a 49-yard Scobee field goal and a 20-16 lead. The Eagles failed to pick up a first down on their following drive, as Vick recovered his own fumble on third down. Jackonsville’s next drive resulted in a punt as well.
Philadelphia took advantage of a pair of personal fouls on the next drive, as well as a 22-yard run by Chad Hall to the Jacksonville 19 yardline. The Eagles stalled out though, as Akers connected on his fourth field goal, this time from 34 yards out. The Eagles pulled within one, trailing the Jaguars 20-19.
Jacksonville had a quick response however, with McCown again going deep. This time the signal caller found Tiquan Underwood for a 55-yard score to put the Jags up 27-19.
Philadelphia again capitalized on a Jacksonville penalty, as William Middleton was flagged for a 46-yard pass interference penalty on an underthrown pass from Mike Kafka to Jordan Norwood. From the 24 yardline, Martell Mallett took over, with three consecutive runs culminating in a 3 yard touchdown. The Birds failed on a two point conversion though, as Kafka skipped a pass to Mallett in the right flat, leaving the Jaguars on top 27-25.
Philadelphia forced a punt on the following possession, getting the ball back for the offense at the Eagles own 15 yardline. The Birds went deep on the first play of the drive, as Kafka found Chad Hall for a 57-yard completion to the Jaguars 28-yardline. An 11-yard completion from Kafka to Mallett put the Eagles in the redzone, where they would again stall. David Akers put his fifth attempt through the uprights for a 36-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 28-27 lead with 9:11 left to play.
That led to a lull in offense, with neither team mounting much on the next few drives. The Jaguars got the ball back at their own 20 yardline with 2:27 left in the game, after Philadelphia saw a drive end at the Jacksonville 42 yardline and Ken Parrish’s punt bounced into the endzone.
The Jaguars Trevor Harris connected on two passes before the two minute warning, then was sacked by Keenan Clayton to bring up 3rd and 13. On the ensuing play, Harris was sacked by Jeff Owens and fumbled the ball forward. Harris recovered his own fumble for a three yard gain to bring up 4th and 10 with 1:13 remaining. Harris found John Matthews over the middle for a nine yard gain, as Simoni Lawrence stopped him short and forced the turnover on downs.
Notes
The Eagles got into the redzone on 9 of their first 11 drives, but came away with just two touchdowns.
The Eagles dominated the time of possession, at one point leading 14:01 to 3:17.
Jacksonville was 0-8 on its first six attempts on third down.
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