PHILADELPHIA -- The Tennessee Titans were exactly what the Philadelphia Eagles needed to get their running game back on track.

"They tried to play a lot of guys close to the line of scrimmage," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. "So when the ball does get popped, there's no real second-level defenders, and if we could get it past the second level, then we were going to get some big runs. I thought that's what we capitalized on."

LeSean McCoy carried the ball 21 times for 130 yards despite spending the fourth quarter watching from the sideline. McCoy could have padded his stats by playing, but having him healthy for the final five weeks, starting with Thursday's game in Dallas, was more important.

"It gets colder, the ball is a lot harder to catch," McCoy said. "Due to different weather, you might have to run the ball more and you pound the ball late in the year. Even though everybody talks about it starting to be a passing league, I think late in the year you really count on the running game to kind of take some time off the clock, to manage that game. I think late in the year, you have to count on your running game."

The Eagles had gotten to 7-3 with McCoy running for over 100 yards only twice. It stands to reason they will need a few more such games if they're going to finish ahead of the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East race. They will play Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.

The Titans' defense was ranked near the bottom of the NFL against the run. The Eagles were able to get a good rhythm going for the first time in weeks.

"We just stuck to it," McCoy said. "Coming off a terrible loss to Green Bay, everybody focused in and had a terrific week of practice and we just stuck to it. I think everybody executed. They got the backs in one-on-one situations. The guys up front really, really blocked well."

It was a performance that helps smooth the road for the tough games ahead. McCoy heard the whispers. He snapped at a reporter who asked him during the week whether he was the same player who led the NFL in rushing last season. "Are you crazy?" was the gist of McCoy's reply.

"Obviously," McCoy said, "you guys and everyone else are going to make their own opinions and write what they want, so I am fine with that. 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're winning games. And that's what we've been doing this year."

There was no blame to take Sunday. McCoy ran the ball like it was 2013 and the Eagles won.