NFL: Mark Sanchez prevails in quarterback battle as Eagles beat Panthers 45-21

Darren Sproles scored two touchdowns and Mark Sanchez threw for two more as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Carolina Panthers 45-21 on Monday Night Football.

Deputising for the injured Nick Foles, Sanchez had 332 yards passing in his first start since December 30 2012, while Sproles returned a punt 65 yards for a score and had an 8-yard TD run.

Bradley Fletcher returned an interception 34 yards for a TD and Jordan Matthews had 138 yards receiving and two TDs in a comfortable win.

The Eagles (7-2) stayed on top in the NFC East as they aim to repeat last year's division triumph without Foles, who broke his collarbone in the win over Houston Texans last week.

The Panthers, who won the NFC South last year, have now lost four in a row, taking their record to 3-6-1. They have conceded more points in 10 games than they did in tthe whole of 2013.

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Cam Newton threw the first of three interceptions and DeAngelo Williams lost a fumble on Carolina's first three plays from scrimmage. The turnovers led to 10 points for the Eagles.

Casey Matthews, starting in place of injured linebacker DeMeco Ryans, forced Williams' fumble and Cedric Thornton recovered at the Panthers 22 before Cody Parkey hit a 39-yard field goal to make it 3-0.

Sanchez completed passes of 15 yards to Jeremy Maclin and 21 yards to Brent Celek to set up Sproles' score.

Newton then connected with Greg Olsen on a 38-yard pass and converted a pair of third-down passes to keep the drive going before Jonathan Stewart jumped over the top from the one-yard line to cut the gap to 10-7.

Sproles broke loose up the middle and cut to the right sideline on his way to his second punt return score this season and fourth in his career, giving the Eagles a 17-7 lead.

Matthews then caught his first TD pass before Fletcher stepped in front of a poor pass intended for Jason Avant and ran it back to put Philadelphia 31-7 up, meaning the Eagles already have a franchise-record nine touchdowns on defense and special teams this season.

LeSean McCoy ran in from the one-yard line to make it 38-7 and Matthews caught an 18-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter. Kelvin Benjamin caught two consolation TDs for the Panthers.