This was a killer drive for the Eagles. The Panthers went 87 yards in seven plays. The first play went for 4 yards. After that, Carolina gained 14, 8, 8, 28, and 7 yards in succession before the 18-yard touchdown. I picked three of those plays to show along with the two-point conversion, and there was a little bit of everything.

The second play of the drive, the comeback route to wide receiver Torrey Smith for 14 yards, because it paints an excellent vision of something I've tried to show for a few weeks. A lot of people -- fans, media -- like to point to the Eagles' off-zone coverage, particularly in Cover 3, as a slight on the cornerbacks when they give up a catch underneath. That is often not the cornerback's fault, however. Look at this play. Before the snap, Bradham tries to get newly signed slot corner Dexter McDougle to buzz out underneath the No. 1 receiver (Smith) in the Eagles' zone coverage concept. McDougle doesn't, and Mills has no help underneath. After the catch, Mills talks things through with McDougle. He has to be there to help Mills in that situation as the Curl/Flat defender in that coverage concept.

On the next play, Newton scrambles for 8 yards after Fletcher Cox misses him in the backfield. On second-and-2, Newton hits a receiver on the back side with a quick slant route right in front of Ronald Darby for an 8-yard gain.

Remember that play.

On first down, the Panthers attack the Eagles in Cover 2. Look, there are holes in every coverage concept. In Cover 2, there are voids are outside the numbers in the intermediate area, between the cornerback and the safety along the sideline (an area I refer to as the turkey hole). The other void is right down the middle of the field deep between the two safeties. That's precisely where Carolina attacked here, sending Jarius Wright down the right seam. He sprinted past Jordan Hicks, who has a tight end crossing his face as well, in coverage. Mills had a receiver outside the numbers running right at him as well, so he has to honor both routes. That creates a void in the middle of the field for Newton to attack, and he hits his wideout in stride for 28 yards.

Two plays later, on second-and-3, the Panthers score. Remember that second-and-2 slant route right in front of Darby? Well, he thinks he's seeing the same thing here, but instead of a slant he gets a slant-and-go route and falls to the ground on the double move, allowing the 18-yard touchdown to Devin Funchess. I understand what he was seeing. The Panthers ran a lot of slants his way in this game, but you can't give up the big play ahead by two scores with just a couple of minutes left. He does, and the Panthers pull within five points.

On the ensuing two-point conversion, the Panthers run a slick play. Bringing Christian McCaffrey in late motion into the backfield, this looks like it could be a run or some kind of option play with Newton. The Eagles' defenders eyes are in the backfield. The mental Rolodex that I mentioned in that preview last week is spinning out of control. Off the run fake, Wright sticks his foot in the ground after pretending to block down, then breaks to the sideline for an easy conversion. The Panthers are now within three points.