CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Stepping in for right tackle Lane Johnson, second-year man Halapoulivaati Vaitai knew he had to focus mentally, keep his cool, and stay patient in his first start of the season Thursday night in a prime-time game against the Carolina Panthers. If he did all of that, he would be fine.
"Jason Peters kept telling me that and I thought of it all game, especially when it didn't start out so good," said Vaitai, who gave up a first-possession sack against veteran defensive end Julius Peppers, who reached quarterback Carson Wentz and forced a fumble that Carolina recovered. "I just kept my cool and got myself back on track."
The sack wasn't completely on Vaitai, to be fair. Wentz pumped twice before Peppers hit him, so let's maybe give the young right tackle some slack. What's important is that Vaitai was solid after that and Wentz, in the face of a barrage of Carolina blitzes, was sacked only two more times the rest of the way and stepped up and threw three touchdown passes in the 28-23 Eagles victory.
The Eagles were 2-8 in 2016 while Johnson served his 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance policy. Johnson was stellar during the team's opening five games, but suffered a concussion in Sunday's win over Arizona and missed this game.
In stepped Vaitai.
"You know, I'm a lot more patient than I was a year ago," said Vaitai, a fifth-round draft pick in 2016. "I know a lot more, I'm a lot more confident, and I'm relying more on my technique. That all helped tonight."
The Panthers tested Vaitai, who worked against Peppers and Charles Johnson. They blitzed from his side, they moved players around, and they tried to confuse him. And while Carolina put hits on Wentz, the Eagles still gave him enough of a pocket to throw three touchdown passes in the huge victory.
"It was a great win for us," Vaitai said. "I just did my job. I have a lot of confidence in myself. I felt I got a lot better last season and I've played this year, so I was ready to go. They didn't do anything that surprised us. I knew they were going to come after me. I think it went pretty well. I know I have a lot more to learn, but it was a good game for us out there."
Peppers was quiet the rest of the night, with only a quarterback hurry to his credit. Johnson had four assists. Vaitai did his job, taking the next step in his career: The Eagles know they have a quality sixth man on an offensive line that has played so well through six games.
The Philadelphia Eagles topped the Carolina Panthers, 28-23, at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday Night Football.

Tonight's attire

White on white

Bank of America Stadium

Bank of America Stadium

QB Carson Wentz

S Malcolm Jenkins

Eagles nation always shows up

QB Carson Wentz

TE Brent Celek

WR Mack Hollins

Best fans out there

DT Elijah Qualls

S Corey Graham

Make away games feel like home

DT Fletcher Cox

All in

Fly Eagles Fly

We all we got

S Chris Maragos

Game time

DBs

DT Fletcher Cox

DE Chris Long

DE Steven Means

CB Jalen Mills

T Jason Peters and DE Brandon Graham

Huddle up

WR Nelson Agholor

WR Nelson Agholor

WR Torrey Smith

RB LeGarrette Blount

RB LeGarrette Blount

QB Carson Wentz

K Jake Elliott

P Donnie Jones and K Jake Elliott

QB Carson Wentz

K Jake Elliott

QB Carson Wentz

LB Mychal Kendricks

S Malcolm Jenkins

Defense

Under the lights

WR Torrey Smith

QB Carson Wentz

WR Mack Hollins

CB Patrick Robinson and LB Nigel Bradham

CB Rasul Douglas

CB Rasul Douglas and DE Derek Barnett

QB Carson Wentz

QB Carson Wentz

DT Fletcher Cox

LB Jordan Hicks, S Malcolm Jenkins, and CB Jalen Mills

S Chris Maragos

S Rodney McLeod

DE Brandon Graham, DT Fletcher Cox, and DT Justin Hamilton

CB Rasul Douglas

CB Rasul Douglas

Defense

DE Brandon Graham

DT Fletcher Cox

LB Nigel Bradham

TE Zach Ertz

DE Brandon Graham

LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

C Jason Kelce and QB Carson Wentz

Defense

TE Brent Celek

S Rodney McLeod

DE Chris Long and DT Beau Allen

TE Zach Ertz

WR Torrey Smith and C Jason Kelce

S Rodney McLeod

QB Carson Wentz and RB LeGarrette Blount

RB LeGarrette Blount

RB LeGarrette Blount

RB LeGarrette Blount and WR Nelson Agholor

CB Patrick Robinson and LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

DE Derek Barnett, DT Fletcher Cox, and CB Patrick Robinson

TE Zach Ertz

QB Carson Wentz

QB Carson Wentz

RB LeGarrette Blount

RB LeGarrette Blount

WR Mack Hollins

QB Carson Wentz

LB Nigel Bradham

CB Jalen Mills

QB Carson Wentz

LB Mychal Kendricks

WR Alshon Jeffery

WR Alshon Jeffery

WR Nelson Agholor

WR Nelson Agholor

WR Nelson Agholor and WR Alshon Jeffery

DE Chris Long

WR Nelson Agholor

WR Nelson Agholor

RB Coach Duce Staley

WR Alshon Jeffery

WR Alshon Jeffery

DE Derek Barnett

DE Derek Barnett

DE Derek Barnett

DE Derek Barnett and DE Chris Long

LB Nigel Bradham

DT Fletcher Cox

WR Nelson Agholor