Up-Down Drill'

Up-Down Drill

The kid can play. Can he be next year's starter? The fact that Foles has gotten better with each of his four starts suggests that he could be. It should be noted that the Buccaneers entered the game with the worst passing defense in the league. But Foles should enjoy his first NFL victory.

For all his skill, Johnson is starting to make the coaches wonder if he can be placed in a big spot. The rookie muffed his second punt of the season, and this one rejuvenated the dormant Bucs when they followed the turnover with seven points.

Tampa Bay has one of the best run defenses in the NFL, and the barrage of stretch plays certainly didn't help in the early going. But Brown fell back to earth. The rookie running back was held to just 6 yards on 12 carries and looked mortal. One positive: He didn't fumble.

He's had a slew of one-handed grabs in a notable career. But when Avant plucked a high throw from Foles out of the air in the first half, it made the hair stand up on backs all across the Delaware Valley. That he was able to stay inbounds was equally impressive. Avant finished with seven catches for 133 yards.

He had a couple of cringe-worthy tackle attempts in the second half. But for the most part, Rodgers-Cromartie played his best game in weeks. The Eagles cornerback allowed very few catches and actually brought the hammer on a few plays.

The Eagles cornerback fought back from a nasty looking back injury but was a liability in the secondary before and after he briefly left the game. Asomugha hasn't been the worst free agent signing in Philly sports history, but his name deserves mention.

McBriar's 40-yard net punting average was his third-best output of the season. But considering that he had to punt seven times, it was a strong number. As the Eagles offense took its time getting its act together, McBriar made sure the defense wasn't on its heels. One caveat: It looked like his hold on Alex Henery's failed 31-yard field-goal attempt had the laces the wrong way.

He caught 9 of 13 passes thrown in his direction and finished with 104 yards. Maclin's 1-yard, game-winning touchdown catch was a bright moment in a season full of many dark ones.

Laces or no laces, Henery has to connect from 31 yards. The kicker saw his consecutive field-goals-made streak stop at 22 when he went left on a 58-yard try before the half. Henery had gotten that chance after an Eagles false start negated his successful 53-yarder a play earlier.

It's been a rough two-plus months for the big guy. He deserves some praise for keeping his players together and still fighting.

- Jeff McLane