Section 215
Fansided

Five Big-Picture Takeaways From Eagles Week 5 Win Vs. Saints

By Somers Price

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5.) The Eagles Are More Mentally Tough than Given Credit for

Oct 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Brent Celek (87) celebrates a 13-yard touchdown catch with wide receiver Jordan Matthews (81) during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Shifting to the players carrying out Chip Kelly’s gameplan, the Eagles had every excuse to come out flat against a Saints team coming off their first win of the season. The rumblings of Kelly’s inability to lead the team through a 1-3 start would have served as a perfect alibi for a stale showing against one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks and a New Orleans team motivated to build on their week four win. Had the Eagles lost Sunday against the Saints, all the blame would have been on Kelly’s shoulders.

Pride was at stake at Lincoln Financial Field. An offensive line with a potential Hall of Famer, an All-Pro caliber center, and a top-five draft pick had drawn upon criticism like never before. The high-priced backfield Kelly sprung for had yet to get untracked the way many expected after their showing in the preseason. The defense was unable to come up with the plays they had prided themselves upon when it mattered most. All of that said, a 1-4 start to the season likely would have led to an intensified criticism of Kelly instead of the team he put together.

From the opening kick, the Eagles played like a team with their season on the line. It was not so much recklessness, but a calculated effort that hadn’t been seen by this Eagles roster to date. No one was trying to save the season with one play. Instead, it seemed as if the roster decided to adhere to what the coaching staff laid out for them and, through injuries and early-season struggles, put forth the type of performance that was tailor-made to bury an undisciplined Saints team. While it was a pair of 1-3 teams squaring off in Philadelphia on Sunday, only one had the capability to still make a run at the postseason. That team won.

While the Eagles displayed their mental fortitude against the Saints, they face a whole new test in doing so against the first place New York Giants. The Eagles won both games against New York last season, but are very much a different team and have to show they can not rest their laurels on their win against the Saints. Regardless of what point of the season it is, any matchup with first place in the division on the line is a different animal. From one to 53, I would gladly argue that the Eagles pose the superior roster than the Giants from a talent standpoint. They’ll have to prove that’s the case between the ears to come away with a win.

Next: Saints vs Eagles Game Balls

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