SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 18, 2011
LeSean McCoy scored three times to set a franchise record for touchdowns in a season and Michael Vick accounted for two scores as the Philadelphia Eagles kept their slim postseason hopes alive with a convincing 45-19 home victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
After racing in from 9 yards out in the second quarter to tie Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren, McCoy broke the record set in 1945 by scoring from 1 yard out in the third. He added a 33-yard score in the fourth for his NFL-leading 20th touchdown.
Tight end Brent Celek had a 27-yard touchdown - as well as 156 yards receiving - and defensive end Juqua Parker had a 47-yard fumble return for a score as Philadelphia (6-8) breezed to a 28-0 halftime lead.
The Eagles can still win the NFC East by winning their last two games - although they'll need help a bit of help from division rivals Dallas (8-6) and New York (7-7). The Cowboys will visit the Giants in the regular-season finale.
Santonio Holmes had a 25-yard touchdown reception for his fourth score in as many contests and Plaxico Burress added his eighth touchdown of the season. New York (8-6), however, saw its three-game winning streak come to an end and fell into a tie with the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) for the AFC's final postseason berth.
After Parker picked up Holmes' fumble and rumbled 47 yards for a score, Celek gave Philadelphia a 14-0 lead with 2:05 left in the first quarter after reeling in a ball with his right hand before bulling his way into the end zone.
Vick then recorded his first rushing touchdown since Dec. 28, 2010, by scoring from 11 yards out. Running along the sideline, Vick extended the ball with his right hand and hit the pylon for the score.