For a half or so, it looked like the Detroit Lions, thanks to the strong arm of Matthew Stafford and the big target Calvin Johnson happens to be, were more accustomed to the weather. The moment LeSean McCoy got going, everything flipped, and the Philadelphia Eagles looked like the weather wasn’t even bothering them, as their running back slid his way to the record books and to a 34-20 win.
McCoy finished with 217 yards on 29 carries, which included touchdown runs of 40 and 57 yards. In a game without any field goals and only one attempted extra point kick (missed by David Akers), it was about who will get going consistently in the impossible weather. For many people, snowy, icy games like this one is what football should be about. Men toughing it out and going back to basics. If 69,144 people pay to actually sit through this weather, what’s 2 and a half hours of football for the players?
McCoy now owns the rushing record for an Eagles player, surpassing Steve Van Buren’s 205 from 1949, and being the team’s first 200-yard rusher since Duce Staley ran for 201 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in 2000. McCoy also caught one more pass for 4 yards, as Nick Foles adjusted quite well later in the game to the harsh weather, not to mention having quite a bit of luck with some of his throws, like the touchdown pass intended to go Brian Celek, but instead caught by DeSean Jackson.
It was tough, to be honest. But the guys were giving me so much room. I actually like to run in between the tackles.
The Lions were up 14-0 and 20-14 thanks to Jeremy Ross returning a kickoff and a punt all the way – one for 58 yards and for 98 yards. However, there wasn’t much else the Lions’ offense gave to the game: Stafford was 10-of-25 for 148 yards, while their running game couldn’t match McCoy’s feats, partially due to Reggie Bush not playing. Joique Bell finished with 69 yards on 23 carries, also scoring a touchdown.
Foles really enjoyed having someone as big and reliable like Riley Cooper to throw to. The big man caught three passes for 74 yards, saving the Eagles and throws on bad plays in more than once occasion, adding some mean blocking at times for McCoy as he rumbled down field. The Eagles now improve to 8-5 and grab a hold of the lead in the NFC East, putting a lot of pressure on the Dallas Cowboys, who need to play in similar weather against the Chicago Bears.