You know when you go to summer camp and find a new best friend? That's sort of what Training Camp must have been like for Jordan Matthews and Mark Sanchez. Throughout July and August at the NovaCare Complex, Sanchez might have completed more passes to Matthews than every other receiver on the team combined. Working with the second-team offense, the second-round draft pick and the new No. 2 quarterback found a connection that surely was meant to last.
Alas, as it does for campers everywhere, summer ended, with Matthews graduating to first-team duties as the Eagles' slot receiver. Without Sanchez, Matthews was fine. He caught 32 passes for 313 yards, an average of four catches for 39 yards per game. The two reunited briefly in game No. 8 when Sanchez relieved an injured Nick Foles and Sanchez immediately found his old buddy for a touchdown.
But in game No. 9, Matthews and Sanchez were back in full force and they picked up just where they left off, connecting seven times for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
"Of course we had something going on in camp," Matthews said. "We kind of had to. We were both on the second team at the time. So, I took the majority of the reps with him. After practice, I made sure I got extra reps with him. I knew that if I wanted to break into the lineup, I had to look good with the second-team first. That was definitely a point of emphasis for me back then. We continued to have a great relationship. I started building one with Nick (Foles), but now it's Mark's opportunity, so I have to go out and make plays for him."
Sanchez and Matthews made their greatest series of connections on the Eagles' longest drive of the night, a 91-yard jaunt that gave the team a 24-7 lead in the second quarter. During the drive, 73 of the Eagles' 91 yards were accounted for by four completions to Matthews, including two third-down conversions and the 13-yard touchdown that capped the drive.
Their second touchdown connection came in the fourth quarter when Sanchez lofted a pass to Matthews in the flat as the receiver hauled it in and ran into the end zone from 18 yards out.
"Jordan finds a way to get open," Sanchez said after the game. "Jordan will be the first one to say that he's not getting open without all of those other threats that we have. We all did a great job and we're proud of that, but Jordan had a heck of a night."
Matthews' impressive evening, with career highs in both catches and yards, was so noteworthy that he felt like someone completely different.
"I felt like I was Jeremy Maclin," Matthews joked, with his position-mate listening from a locker away. "At the same time, you have to put (the game) behind you. Like I said, I have a bunch of great guys ahead of me who show me how to be a professional. If you take too much time looking at the stats and drinking the Kool-Aid, you lose your appetite. I just try to put it behind me and move forward."
The Eagles hosted the Carolina Panthers in a Monday Night Football matchup ...
WR Jordan Matthews diving accross the goal line for the TOUCHDOWN
Eagles fans showing up early for some Monday Night Football
Members from all branches of United States service join the Eagles in the #EaglesSalute game opening ceremonies
Jeffrey Lurie joins fans for some tailgating outside Lincoln Financial Field
Jeffrey Lurie signing a fan's tailgate trailer
Eagles fans welcoming Jeffrey Lurie to their tailgate with big smiles
Jeffrey Lurie and a fan posing for a selfie
A group of happy fans hanging out with Jeffrey Lurie
C/G Julian Vandervelde preparing for the game
K Cody Parkey getting in some practice kicks before kickoff
LB Bryan Braman making a special teams tackle on the opening kick off
DE Cedric Thornton grabs the ball to gain possession for the Eagles
QB Mark Sanchez in his first start for the Philadelphia Eagles
K Cody Parkey hits a 39 yard field goal to put the Eagles up 3-0
United States servicemen lead the Philadelphia Eagles on the field for #EaglesSalute
SWOOP follows closely behind the servicemen being honored at the game as they run onto the field
LB Mychal Kendricks lines up with his sights on the Panthers QB
QB Mark Sanchez escapes a sack to complete a pass
RB Darren Sproles carries for the Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders make some noise for the team
A die-hard Eagles fan sports his green face for the team
Teammates celebrate with CB Cary Williams after he makes an interception
QB Mark Sanchez and G Evan Mathis work the field on an offensive drive
Eagles players stand side-by-side with current United States servicemen, holding the full field flag during the National Anthem
QB Mark Sanchez looks for RB Darren Sproles as he makes a run upfield
RB Darren Sproles celebrates a touchdown for the Eagles
TE Zach Ertz congratulates RD Darren Sproles on a touchdown play
CB Cary Williams surrounded by his teammates
G/T Matt Tobin makes contact with a Panthers lineman
RB Darren Sproles solutes in honor of #EaglesSalute
TEs Brent Celek and Zach Ertz join RB Darren Sproles in celebration
LB Connor Barwin and DT Bennie Logan work together to take down a Panthers player
CB Brandon Boykin in the mix with the team
WR Jordan Matthews carries the ball into the end zone for a touchdown
QB Mark Sanchez congratulating WR Jordan Matthews on his touchdown
LB Casey Matthews takes down a Panthers player
RB Darren Sproles cuts past a Panthers defenseman
An Eagles Cheerleader pumps up the crowd
LB Connor Barwin goes airborne to sack the Panthers QB
LB Connor Barwin celebrating with the crowd
WR Jordan Matthews gaining yards for the Eagles
An Eagles Cheerleader psyching up the fans in the stands
RB LeSean McCoy breaking free for a run
P Donnie Jones punting for the Eagles
LB Brandon Graham grabbing a Panthers player to take him down
Another carry by RB Darren Sproles
WR Jordan Matthews on the move for the Eagles
LB Trent Cole catches the leg of the Panthers QB to break up a play
LB Trent Cole with a QB sack
RB Darren Sproles crossing the line for a touchdown
Eagles President Don Smolenski on the sidelines
Eagles celebrating another touchdown
TE Brent Celek takes control of the ball
The Eagles defense pounces on a Panthers player
The Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders perform for the stadium
SWOOP dons camouflage gear for #EaglesSalute
Eagles fans supporting the team
An Eagles fan showing his support of #EaglesSalute with a camouflage baseball cap
On the sidelines Eagles fans celebrate a big lead over the Panthers
LB Mychal Kendricks dances after a QB sack
LB Mychal Kendricks celebrates a stop
Another sack from the Eagles defense
TE Zach Ertz blocks for WR Jordan Matthews on an offensive drive
S Chris Prosinski keeping an eye on a Panthers player
CB Bradley Fletcher intercepts the ball and runs it in for a touchdown
LB Connor Barwin with a QB sack
LB Connor Barwin flying high after a sack
S Nate Allen leaps into the air for an interception
The United States Marines showcase their rifle skills at halftime
CB Bradley Fletcher celebrating his touchdown
Fly Eagles Fly!
Servicemen hold the full field flag for the National Anthem
Flares go off above Lincoln Financial Field during the National Anthem
Fireworks erupt marking the start of the game
An Eagles banner flies across Lincoln Financial Field
CB Bradley Fletcher celebrates his touchdown
LB Trent Cole going in for a QB sack
LB Mychal Kendricks charges the Panthers QB
LB Mychal Kendricks in celebratory dance
CB Bradley Fletcher with the ball
CB Bradley Fletcher running an intercepted ball
CB Bradley Fletcher celebrating his touchdown
S Malcolm Jenkins and LB Emmanuel Acho take down a Panthers player
The Eagles on defense
The Panthers QB running from the defense
LB Connor Barwin celebrating after a sack
LBs Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham congratulate each other
Eagles fans cheering with excitement
DE Cedric Thornton getting ready to make a big play
WR Jordan Matthews taking the ball down field
LB Trent Cole running down the line of scrimmageÂ
DE Fletcher Cox reaching in and disturbing the Panthers' QBÂ
LB Connor Barwin with another sack!
LB Connor Barwin had 3.5 sacks on the night
S Nate Allen making a late first half interception
DE Vinny Curry getting pressure on the quarterback
TE Brent Celek throwing out the stiff arm
TE Brent Celek busting through tackles
WR Jordan Matthews rocking the #EaglesSalute gloves
WR Riley Cooper slipping down after making an athletic catch
WR Jeremy Maclin running after the catch
RB LeSean McCoy breaking through tackles
QB Mark Sanchez making a pass
