Eagles numerology

The Eagles were ranked 23rd in the league in first-down production going into the Saints game. They had averaged just 4.89 yards per first-down play in their first four games. On Sunday, they averaged a season-high 7.48, amassing 314 of their 519 yards on 42 first-down plays. Running backs DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles, who had collectively averaged just 3.0 yards per carry on first down in the first four games, averaged 5.8 Sunday. One hundred thirty-one of the Eagles' 186 rushing yards came on first down. Sam Bradford completed 15 of 19 first-down passes and averaged 9.5 yards per attempt on first down. Both of his touchdown passes came on first-down plays. In the first four games, Bradford had averaged just 6.5 yards per attempt on first down.

That's Sam Bradford's second-half passer rating in the first five games. Bradford, who completed 13 of 15 passes in the second half Sunday, has a .702 second-half completion percentage and is averaging 8.0 yards per attempt. That's the good news. The bad news is he hasn't been nearly as good in the first half. His first-half passer rating is 65.6. He has completed just 56.2 percent of his first-half passes and has averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt. All three of his league-high red-zone interceptions have come in the first half, including the two against the Saints. The Eagles have outscored opponents 85-50 in the second half, but have been outscored in the first half, 37-53.

That would be the total number of turnovers the Eagles have committed in their first five games. While they forced a season-high four Saints turnovers Sunday, they also had two more of their own as Bradford threw his fifth and sixth interceptions of the season. They're currently on pace for 32 giveaways, which would be just four fewer than last year. Just two teams have more giveaways than the Eagles – Detroit (15) and Indianapolis (12). Three more – Houston, New Orleans and Tampa Bay – also have 10. The combined record of those other five teams: 7-18.

The number of combined receiving yards by tight ends Zach Ertz and Brent Celek against the Saints, which is just 16 fewer receiving yards than they had in the first four games. Ertz and Celek had just 12 catches for 120 yards, no touchdowns and just four first downs in the first four games. On Sunday, they combined for 8 catches for 104 yards, one touchdown (a 13-yarder by Celek in the third quarter) and six of the Eagles' season-high 18 receiving first downs. Ertz and Celek played a collective 105 snaps against the Saints as Chip Kelly used two-tight end sets on 24 of the Eagles' 79 offensive plays. That's four more times than he used two-tight end sets in the first four games combined.

Lost in the jubilation of the defense's five-sack performance against the Saints was the fact that the Eagles gave up a season-high seven "X'' plays - pass plays of 20 yards or more. That was a season-high. After giving up five "X" plays in their Week 1 loss to the Falcons, the Eagles had only six against them in the next three games. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis blamed the inordinate number Sunday on the fact that they played a lot of man coverage against Drew Brees. Whatever the reason, with the Giants' dangerous Odell Beckham Jr. up next, they need to do better. Their 18 "X" plays currently are the ninth most in the league.