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Eagles Numerology

Some numbers that mattered in the Eagles' stunning 35-28 upset of the Patriots: 128.4 Sam Bradford's third-down passer rating against the Patriots. Third down has been a black hole for Bradford and the Eagles this season. The Eagles quarterback was ranked 29th in the league in third-down passing (57.6 rating) and the Eagles were 27th

Some numbers that mattered in the Eagles' stunning 35-28 upset of the Patriots:

128.4

Sam Bradford's third-down passer rating against the Patriots. Third down has been a black hole for Bradford and the Eagles this season. The Eagles quarterback was ranked 29th in the league in third-down passing (57.6 rating) and the Eagles were 27th in third-down efficiency (34.4 percent) going into the New England game. Bradford had completed just 48.9 percent of his third-down passes, had averaged a league-worst 4.01 yards per attempt and had converted just 26.1 percent of his third-down passes into first downs. But against the Patriots, he completed eight of 11 third-down passes, including two for touchdowns. And his clutch 14-yard completion to Riley Cooper on third-and-11 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the game allowed the Eagles to squeeze another critical minute and change from the clock before Kenjon Barner's fumble gave the ball back to the Patriots with 1:02 left.

2

The number of times the Eagles intercepted Tom Brady on Sunday. The Eagles hadn't had an interception in three games. Brady had thrown just four in 451 attempts in the Patriots' first 11 games. But Walter Thurmond got his hand on a third-quarter slant pass to Danny Amendola at the goal line that caromed into Malcolm Jenkins' hands, and he raced 99 yards for a touchdown with it. And Byron Maxwell intercepted an up-for-grabs Brady bomb later in the third quarter that kick-started that memorable 12-play, 80-yard, six-minute touchdown drive that put the Eagles up 35-14. It was just the 14th time in the last seven seasons that Brady has thrown multiple interceptions in a game. The Patriots have won just five of those 14 games.

32

The Eagles' league ranking in red-zone defense. As in dead last. Opponents have converted 31 of 45 red-zone opportunities, or 68.9 percent, into touchdowns. The Patriots converted four of five Sunday. In the last seven games, the Eagles have given up 24 touchdowns in 28 opponent red-zone trips. Their touchdown percentage in the red zone this season is the worst in Bill Davis' three years as defensive coordinator. It was 58.1 percent last year, and 55.3 percent in 2013.

24

Darren Sproles' total touches against the Patriots. He had a season-high 15 carries for 66 yards, caught four passes for 34 yards and returned five punts, including one for an 83-yard touchdown. Sproles' 15 rushing attempts were the 5-6, 190-pound running back's most since he had 18 in a game for the Chargers in September of 2009. The only other time in his career that he's had 15 or more carries was in '07 with the Chargers, when he had 25 for 122 yards in a 51-14 win over the Lions.

30

Receptions by Eagles wide receivers other than Jordan Matthews in the Eagles' last six games. They had just two Sunday. Riley Cooper had one catch for 14 yards and Jonathan Krause had one for 4 yards. Matthews is the only Eagles wideout with more than 20 receptions (61) this season. In the last six games, the Eagles' outside receivers are averaging just 10.6 yards per catch.

Blog: eagletarian.comEagles numerology