The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0.
The New Orleans Saints are 0-2.
There is a common theme there. Two of them, actually.
Their names are Darren Sproles and Malcolm Jenkins. Last year, they both were playing in the Big Easy. It was Sproles' kick return that set up the winning field goal as the Saints walked out of Lincoln Financial Field with a playoff victory. Jenkins was the glue in the middle of the Saints defensive secondary.
Sproles and Jenkins were the Eagles two big off-season additions, moves that left many fans grumbling that the Birds had not done enough to upgrade their roster, in particular on the defensive side of the ball.
Last night, both played huge roles in the Birds' second straight come-from-behind win as they stunned the Colts - inside their noisy dome - 30-27.
For the second straight week Sproles was dominating. The pint-sized running back caught 7 passes from Nick Foles for 152 yards. He added another 26 yards rushing.
Jenkins came up with a crucial interception off the Colts' much-heralded QB Andrew Luck in the fourth quarter to set up the game-tying TD toss from Foles to Jeremy Maclin.
It was left to one more new face, cherub-faced rookie kicker Cody Parkey, to break a 27-27 tie by banging home the game-winner with just three ticks left on the clock.
Parkey admitted to being a bit 'antsy' when he missed a 38-yard attempt in the 1st quarter. But he was money when you want your kicker to be - and when the Eagles never were confident that Alex Henery would be - when the game is on the line and the clock is ticking toward 00:00.
Not only was Parkey not flustered, but he calmly lined up and drilled the game-winner again after his first try was wiped out when the Colts called a last-second timeout in an attempt to rattle him.
Not much seems to be rattling Chip Kelly and the Eagles these days.
Last week they overcame a miserable start and some shaky play from Foles. After being down 17-0 at halftime, they sprinted past the Jags in the second half, scoring 34 unanswered points.
In the process they lost two starting offensive linemen, left guard Evan Mathis and right tackle Allen Barbre, who was already filling in for Lane Johnson, who is serving a 4-game suspension for use of a banned substance.
The Birds never blinked.
Last night looked like an instant replay, with the Eagles falling behind 17-6 at the half, on the road, in front of a loud, hostile dome crowd.
No problem.
Foles and the Birds went to work in the 2nd half. Sproles again had a starring role, including a 19-yard bolt for a score in the 3rd quarter.
Perhaps most telling about this Eagles team is the reaction of star running back LeSean McCoy. For the second straight week, his star has been eclipsed by the effort of Sproles.
Do you think maybe McCoy, who bragged in the preseason about the possibility of putting up 2,000 yards rushing, was pouting as the ball wound up in Sproles' hands?
Not a chance.
" Without Sproles, we would be in some trouble, to be honest, we really would,," McCoy said. "When guys are struggling, he's picking everybody up. He's helping me out. I need to get my thing together. I don't feel like I'm playing to the level I should be playing at."
And all this as the Eagles sit at 2-0.
Next up on Sunday at 1 is that team from Washington, bringing in tow a certain wide receiver.
Anyone remember DeSean Jackson?
Darren Sproles is making fans forget him pretty quickly.
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