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Sanchez Offers A Different Skill Set; Kelly Using Those Skills
Following up on an item in this week's Team Notes. ... According to ESPN.com's Phil Sheridan, as Mark Sanchez returns to Thanksgiving football as the starting quarterback for the Eagles, the nightmare from two years ago still lingers in the background.

Sanchez’s infamous butt fumble was only part of the humiliation as the Jets lost 49-19 to the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving 2012.

But it remains the most-recognized play of Sanchez’s career.

And the turnover problem continues to plague Sanchez even after his departure from New York, but the path to a resolution appears much clearer in Philadelphia.

Sanchez led the Eagles to their lone turnover-free game this season in Week 10 against the Panthers. Philadelphia coasted to a 24-point win that week in large part due to a defense that forced five turnovers.

Sheridan went on to notes that in each of his other three games, Sanchez has thrown two interceptions, but they have been largely masked by their timing. All six of his interceptions have come when the Eagles had a win probability of at least 79 percent or less than 1 percent. Sanchez has been able to avoid the game-changing turnover. The easiest way to continue that trend could lie in the play calling.

Last week, Sanchez used the play-action passing game to perfection. As LeSean McCoy and the Eagles re-established the running game, Sanchez completed 12-of-14 passes off play-action fakes for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Sanchez has been a different quarterback on play-action passes, which works great with the Eagles’ style of offense. Philadelphia has attempted 161 play-action passes this season, by far the most in the league (the Browns are the next closest with 117).

In addition, Sanchez hasn’t thrown an interception this season when he has rolled outside the pocket.

Sanchez has replaced a quarterback in Nick Foles who often struggled outside the pocket. Foles completed less than 50 percent of his passes from out of the pocket and had not thrown a touchdown since Week 1 against the Jaguars.

As Sanchez and the Eagles hit the field in Dallas today, taking advantage outside the pocket could be a hidden key to success.

This season, the Cowboys have allowed six passing touchdowns to quarterbacks outside the pocket and have made zero interceptions.

Still, as Pro Football Focus' Mike Clay pointed out, Foles' injury has been bad news for Jeremy Maclin's fantasy stock.

Foles was under center for each of the Eagles' first seven games. During that span, Maclin scored six touchdowns and was fifth among wide receivers in fantasy points. In Sanchez's three full games as starter, Maclin has one score and is 22nd in fantasy points.

Clay added that Maclin averaged 10.6 targets per game with Foles and is down to 8.7 per game with Sanchez.

Indeed, slot receiver Jordan Matthews has become Sanchez's go-to guy on third down and the new QB is also throwing to tight end Brent Celek more often. As a result, Maclin's value has taken a hit.

In a related note. ... Matthews has a five-inch height advantage over Dallas' 5-10 cornerback Sterling Moore.

A few final items here. ... Matthews (knee), tight end Zach Ertz (oblique) and kicker Cody Parkey (groin) are all listed as probable for today's game; all will play as usual.