PHILADELPHIA — Tim Tebow got a warm Philly welcome.
PHILADELPHIA — Tim Tebow got a warm Philly welcome.
Tebow threw for 69 yards and ran for a touchdown in his first game in two years, Kenjon Barner returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown and ran for a score and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Indianapolis Colts 36-10 Sunday.
Tebow got a standing ovation when he entered midway through the third quarter and the crowd roared so loud when his name was introduced he had to quiet them down because he was taking the snap in a shotgun.
He dove into the pylon on a 7-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 yards rushing on four carries. He completed 6 of 12 passes and was sacked twice.
Tebow hadn’t played since the 2013 preseason with New England until the Eagles (1-0) signed him to compete with Matt Barkley for the No. 3 spot behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez. Barkley was 12 of 20 for 192 yards and one interception.
Rookie first-round pick Nelson Agholor caught a 39-yard TD pass from Sanchez. Bradford and All-Pro running back DeMarco Murray didn’t play.
Playing their first game since losing to the Patriots in the AFC championship game that began the Deflategate saga, the Colts (0-1) didn’t seem as if they prepared much for Philadelphia’s up-tempo offense and they were missing several defensive starters.
But making sure players get reps is more important than scheming for a unique offense they’re not going to see in the regular season.
Quarterback Andrew Luck completed 5 of 6 for 43 yards and left during the second series.
Tebow completed his first four passes. His first went for a 5-yard gain and then he fired one over the middle to Eric Tomlinson for a 15-yard gain on third-and-12. He hit Tomlinson in stride for 12 yards and also lowered his shoulder on a run that gained 3.
Fans chanted “Tebow! Tebow!” during the series, but the drive stalled when Tebow threw his first incomplete pass.