Huff, McCoy lead Eagles past Titans, 43-24

PHILADELPHIA (AP) LeSean McCoy cut and slashed, quickly hit the holes and looked like his old self running the ball.

Maybe that will silence his critics for a week.

McCoy ran for 130 yards, Josh Huff returned the opening kickoff 107 yards, and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Tennessee Titans 43-24 on Sunday.

McCoy, the reigning NFL rushing champion, hasn't had much success this year. He entered the game averaging 3.7 yards per carry, down from 5.1 in 2013.

He was irritated this week by questions from reporters suggesting he lost a step. So, McCoy responded with his third 100-yard performance in the past six games. He also had a season-best, 53-yard run.

''Everybody has an opinion,'' McCoy said. ''As long as the guys in the locker room, they know what's up, we are a team. If the running game isn't going, I'll take the blame or whatever. It doesn't really matter, as long as we are winning games.''

The Eagles (8-3) now can shift their focus to the Cowboys (7-3) for a first-place showdown on Thanksgiving. The top two teams in the NFC East will play twice in 18 days, starting with Thursday's game at Dallas.

Mark Sanchez threw for 307 yards and one touchdown in his third start for the injured Nick Foles. He has 300 yards passing in three straight games, tying a team record.

Rookie Zach Mettenberger had 345 yards passing and two TDs, and Delanie Walker had 155 yards receiving for the Titans (2-9).

After the first of four straight three-and-outs to start the game by the Titans, the Eagles went up 14-0 on a 4-yard TD run by Darren Sproles.

McCoy had a 2-yard TD run in the second quarter. Sanchez fired a 14-yard TD pass to James Casey in the third quarter.

The Titans didn't get a first down until Mettenberger threw a 40-yard TD pass to Justin Hunter on their fifth offensive series.

Here's some other things we learned:

BRINGING THE HEAT: The Eagles sacked Mettenberger five times, including 2 1/2 by Connor Barwin and two for Trent Cole. Barwin has a career-high 12 1/2 this season after his fourth multi-sack game of the season. Even when they didn't bring him down, the Eagles harassed and pressured Mettenberger throughout the game without blitzing.

''I barely pressured,'' defensive coordinator Billy Davis said. ''It was all four-man rush and the ball wasn't coming out as quick.''

TURNOVER PRONE: Sanchez is throwing for more yards than he ever has, but he's still tossing interceptions, too. Sanchez threw two more picks, raising his total to six in four games. He was also credited with two lost fumbles last week. Sanchez never had consecutive 300-yard passing games in five seasons with the Jets. He already has three in a row.

''We have to take care of the football no matter what,'' Sanchez said.

HEALTHY DELANIE: Walker returned from a concussion to have the best receiving game in his career from a yardage standpoint. Walker had 10 catches for 142 yards against Dallas earlier this season.

''It was a good day, just to have a concussion and come back to do what I did,'' Walker said. ''But I'm not really happy about it because we lost.''

NO FEAR HUFF: Huff's return was the longest in franchise history and the 10th non-offensive touchdown for Philadelphia this season. The rookie who played for Chip Kelly at Oregon hadn't made much of an impact until now.

''Before every game he asks me if I am scared,'' Huff said of Kelly. ''When I came to the sideline: he said, `Obviously you weren't scared. Now that you know you can make those plays, continue to make those plays.' I have to continue to get better as the season goes along and hope for the best.''

LOOK AT THOSE HANDS: Titans center Brian Schwenke caught a batted pass for a 6-yard gain, but then fumbled it away. Coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't sugarcoat the turnover, even though Schwenke is an offensive lineman who isn't supposed to catch passes.

''He has to have better ball security,'' Whisenhunt said. ''He almost got the first down. If he can catch it and make the first down then by all means do it. If it's not a fumble there and we're down deep in their territory, it might be a different game.''

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