Eagles defense bails out offense’s turnovers in 31-17 win over Miami Dolphins

PHILADELPHIA – Maybe the Kelly green uniforms helped the Eagles’ defense tap into the versions of those teams from the late 1980s and 1990s on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field against the Miami Dolphins.

Because all week, the discussion heading into the “Sunday Night Football” matchup was about how prolific the Dolphins’ offense was: It entered the game with the most yards (498.7) and points (37.2) per game.

Instead, the Eagles overcame two turnovers and proved they have a Super Bowl-quality defense in the 31-17 win. The Super Bowl teams from last season, the champion Kansas City Chiefs and Eagles, are the only 6-1 teams in the NFL, with the Dolphins falling to 5-2.

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The Eagles’ defense held the explosive Dolphins’ offense in check, keeping it to a season-low 244 yards. The Eagles, meanwhile, had 355 yards of total offense and did not commit a penalty in the game — while the Dolphins had 10 for 70 yards.

In the first half, the defense limited the Dolphins to 113 yards, the lowest for the Dolphins in the first half this season. They also held the Dolphins to -7 yards rushing, the lowest first-half total in the league since 2009. Altogether, Miami had 45 yards on the ground.

The only major blip by the defense was when it allowed Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who had 11 catches and 88 yards, to streak by their defensive backs with 39 seconds left before halftime to cut the lead to 17-10.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had a knee brace on in the second half, made big plays, but also continued his roller coaster of a season. Hurts finished the night by completing 23 of his 31 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another 21 rushing yards. He also had two turnovers.

At times, Hurts looked like an MVP candidate when he completed a nicely thrown ball on a 42-yard pass in the fourth quarter to wide receiver A.J. Brown, who made 10 catches for 137 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, to help Hurts beat his former Alabama teammate, Tua Tagovailoa.

Other times, Hurts let the Dolphins hang around with turnovers that led to 10 points for the Dolphins. Hurts fumbled the ball in the first quarter, which the Dolphins recovered at the Eagles’ 23-yard line and resulted in a field goal. Hurts also had a pass deflected and returned 22 yards by Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker for a touchdown in the third quarter. Hurts has turned the ball over six times in the last three weeks, throwing five interceptions, including three in last week’s loss to the New York Jets, in that span.

Thankfully for Hurts, the defense continues to be the Eagles’ backbone, and no play was bigger than the one by cornerback Darius Slay in the fourth quarter. With the Dolphins at the Eagles’ 24-yard line and threatening to tie the game, Slay jumped Tagovailoa’s pass at the Eagles’ 1-yard line and got his second interception of the season. The offense looked invigorated by the turnover as it rolled for a Kenneth Gainwell 3-yard touchdown after a 13-play, 83-yard drive to extend the lead to 31-17.

But the defense’s display is what gives the Eagles confidence they can beat anyone in the league, making it look easy to slow down the NFL’s fastest and most explosive skill position group.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story

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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.