WATCH: Eagles beat Panthers by mastering Super Bowl formula

CHARLOTTE -- Through the first six weeks of the 2017 season, the Eagles have shown an ability to win under virtually any circumstance.

Whether it's winning in hostile environments on the road (Week 1 against the Washington Redskins, in Los Angeles against the Chargers -- albeit amid an Eagles fan takeover at StubHub Center -- and in Carolina against the Panthers, or overcoming significant injuries (losing Darren Sproles Week 3 against the Giants), blowouts or close games, the Eagles have shown an ability to do it all.

Thursday night's 28-23 victory over the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium wasn't just a microcosm of how this season has gone for the Eagles, but it highlighted the maturation of this football team and it's ability to play complimentary football.

The defense forced three turnovers, which quarterback Carson Wentz and the offense converted to 17 points.

Kicker Jake Elliott made field goals of 48 and 50 yards.

Whenever it seemed that either the offense or defense faced adversity be it against Carolina's pass rush early, or Cam Newton and the offense moving the football late, it seemed one of the Eagles' units stepped up and made a play that restored momentum and ultimately won the game.

"That's the key to winning in this league," Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said. "It's so hard to win, to play complimentary is key. To be able to take care of the football on offense, to get drives when you need it, take advantage of field position, for the defense to get stops when we need it.

"We held them to a field goal one time when they were in the red zone to prevent them from tying the game. Special teams got us out of some jams when we were backed up. When all three phases are flowing, it helps out so much. It doesn't put too much stress on any unit, in particular and everybody can be patient. As long as you can control the ball, control the game, and be patient, you can be in the driver's seat."

Complementary football is how the New England Patriots have won five Super Bowls, it's how the Pittsburgh Steelers are perennially among the top contenders in the AFC, and how Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are a threat to return the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Titletown every season.

While it is incredibly premature to anoint the Eagles into that company, Thursday proved that this team has an ability and perhaps more importantly the temperament to play that brand of football.

"I just think we're playing complete football," Eagles defensive end Chris Long told NJ Advance Media. "So, the offense helps us out at times, we help them out at times, that complimentary football ... you need it on the road to win. Especially against a team that thrives off big plays like the Panthers do. Playing balanced helped tonight."

Thursday night isn't an outlier.

The Eagles have the NFC's best point differential, have the NFL's most efficient third down offense and have scored 20 points in 10 consecutive games dating back to last season, which is the longest active streak in the NFL.

Last season, the Eagles won just one game on the road, and have already tripled that feat in 2017.

Similarly to the Panthers' motto of 'keep pounding' the next test for this Eagles team who will face another test in Week 7 in the rematch with Washington, this team now has to focus on managing this success and avoiding complacency: just keep rolling.

"The biggest thing for us is handling that success," Jenkins said. "Being able to stay goal-oriented, stay focused on the task at hand, take it one week at a time, and not listen to all of the things that people are projecting on us. The only way to get through those injuries and everything else going on is to be where your feet are, and be totally present in that moment

"That's up to the leaders on this team to combat all of the praise, and hoopla that will come with it. I've been on teams that have handled success well, and teams that have handled success poorly. I don't intend to let that slip."

Long won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots last season, and while he is nowhere near ready to anoint his current team a favorite to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy, the veteran defensive end admits that there is value to this team winning in the fashion that they have thus far.

"We'll see if we're special," Long said. "I don't know if we're special, yet. We're six games in. We have a long way to go. Special teams sustain this kind of performance, as the weather gets colder, that's when real football starts in November and December. We've got to set ourselves up for that.

"The way that you build that confidence is by winning close ball games. We've been doing this all year. We've been winning close games all year. It's a good skill to develop. Last week it was about closing people out, keeping a big lead, this week it was about winning a close one. There are a lot of ways you need to figure out how to win games in the NFL."

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL.

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