Did the Dion Lewis era begin Sunday?

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Very quietly, the Dion Lewis Era began Sunday afternoon. Probably long after you gave up on the Eagles-Redskins game.

Lewis, the rookie from Pitt, ran nine times for 60 yards in the second half of the Eagles season finale, a 34-10 win over the Redskins at the Linc.

For Lewis, who had just 11 carries all year until Sunday, it was a breakthrough performance that gave everybody a glimpse of the guy who should be LeSean McCoys backup next year.

Lewis, a fifth-round draft pick, finished the game with 12 carries for 58 yards (he was 3-for-minus-two before halftime) and had 23 carries for 102 yards in his rookie season -- a healthy 4.4 yards a pop.

In the last 25 years, only two Eagles rookie running backs -- Correll Buckhalter (4.5 in 2001) and Ryan Moats (5.1 in 2005) -- have had a higher per-carry average, based on a minimum of 20 carries.

Ronnie Brown, the former Dolphins Pro Bowl tailback, finished a disappointing season 6-for-14 rushing against the Redskins and 42-for-136 overall (3.2 average). That 3.2 average is the worst by an Eagle on 40 or more carries since Michael Haddix averaged 2.7 yards per carry in 1984.

Definitely, when you have an opportunity you have to make the most of it, Lewis said. And every time I get an opportunity I try to make the most of it and yesterday I had an opportunity. It felt good to get out there and play a little bit.

Just have to keep working hard and learn as much as I can this off-season that I can use to my advantage. And come camp Ill be ready and doing everything full speed.

With Brown scheduled to become a free agent, Lewis should have the No. 2 tailback spot locked up behind Pro Bowl pick LeSean McCoy, who preceded Lewis at Pitt.

I ask him a question every day, Lewis said of McCoy. Him and Ronnie have been a great help for me this year. To have two guys like that, you have great players who have been in the league for a few years. So having guys like that to be able to look up to and ask questions has been a big help for me.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.

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