The Carolina Panthers had no answer for the up-tempo Philadelphia Eagles offense on Thursday as head coach Chip Kelly's schemes paid huge dividends in his team's second preseason game. The Eagles gained 402 total yards in a 14-9 win over the Panthers.
Panthers vs. Eagles results: Chip Kelly’s up-tempo system too much, Eagles win 14-9
Philadelphia’s offense was simply too much for the Panthers in a game far more lopsided than the score indicates.
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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Nick Foles got the start, as Philadelphia elected to play Michael Vick with the second team. Foles showed a deft control of the hurry up offense, completing 75 percent of his passes and running for a 7-yard touchdown. The lone blemish on the night was a fumbled snap, which Foles hurried and threw for an interception in the first quarter.
Vick entered the game in the second quarter, and was stellar. Completing 9-of-10 passes, he threw one interception on a Hail Mary to end the half, but it wasn’t on Vick. His accuracy and ability to evade a talented Carolina pass rush made him look like a natural fit for Kelly’s offense. Foles played well, but Vick was better and it’s hard to imagine him not starting Week 1.
As for LeSean McCoy, let's just say he's going to be just fine in 2013.
Cam Newton and the Carolina offense was a different story. The Panthers struggled to move the ball on the ground as DeAngelo Williams averaged just over three yards per carry, while Newton showed spotty accuracy in completing just 47 percent of his passes.
However, it wasn’t a case of the skill position players failing as much as offensive line play letting them down.
There were some bright spots for the Panthers’ defense, but ultimately they couldn’t account for the speed of Philadelphia’s offense. Rookies were caught flat footed, while veterans look ill-prepared to rush back to the line as needed. It remains to be seen if the Eagles’ offense can keep up the pace for 16 games, but they’ll give teams headaches.
Did they cover?
The Eagles were three-point favorites, according to OddsShark. Their five-point win means they covered the spread.
What’s next?
Aug. 22, 8 p.m. ET: Carolina vs. Baltimore
Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET: Philadelphia vs. Jacksonville
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