The New England Patriots went on the road to face a desperate Philadelphia Eagles team and for a while it looked like New England was suffering a let down circa Cleveland 2010. But thankfully it didn’t take long for Bill Belichick and Company to right the ship and rip off a convincing 38-20 win at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
The way the game started it certainly wasn’t pretty as Philadelphia’s back up QB Vince Young started 4 of 5 for 120 yards with chunks of those coming on two big pass plays. One went was set up with a pass to WR Riley Cooper for 58-yards that led to a LeSean McCoy TD, while a second to WR DeSean Jackson was for 44-yards and helped them get a field goal and a 10-0 lead.
The New England defense quickly corrected itself and went from zone to more man-to-man coverage and all of a sudden Young went from looking like Peyton Manning to looking like, well Vince Young.
While Young finished with 400 yards through the air, he was 26 of 48 with two sacks, one TD and an INT, he was far from spectacular as New England yielded him some soft yards once they built up a large lead in the second half.
The Patriots were much better defensively in 3rd down situations again this week as the Eagles went 4 of 13 for 31% and were 1 for 2 on 4th down, while holding Philly to 2 out of 4 in red zone chances.
Offensively the Patriots were efficient themselves. They were 4 for 5 in the red zone and were 3 for 3 in goal to go situations while controlling the ball for over 32 minutes racking up a total of 457 yards (104 rushing/353 passing) and going 6 for 11 on 3rd down (55%).
QB Tom Brady was 24 of 34 for 361 yards, 3 TD’s 0 INT’s and 1 sack and added another 27 yards rushing. He almost had a 4th TD pass when he went 63 yards to Deion Branch but Branch was brought down at the 1-yard line. RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis then ran it in for his second rushing TD of the game that gave the Patriots a 14-10 lead and they never looked back again.
Branch had 6 catches for 125 yards, WR Wes Welker had 8 grabs for 115 yards and 2 TD’s while the TE’s Rob Gronkowski (4 catches for 59 yards 1 TD) and Aaron Hernandez (6 catches for 62 yards) combined for 10 catches, 121 yards and a TD.
Green-Ellis had 44 yards and 2 TD’s on just 14 carries.
It’s getting ugly in Philadelphia for the “Dream Team” as the Eagles are now 4-7 overall and just 1-5 at home and the home fans are surly. While in New England the team is 8-3 and rolling with not a difficult game left as they prepare to cruise towards the playoffs and a potential number 1 seed in the AFC.
Patriots at Eagles Gamebook, this includes the box score, all the stats, play by play, drive charts and more.
Patriots at Eagles Game Recap via Associated Press.
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Turning Point(s) of the Game
In 1st quarter when Patriots held the Eagles to a FG on their second drive. They were only down 10-0 instead of 14-0 and came roaring back to take the game over.
Offensive Player(s) of the Game
WR Wes Welker had 8 catches for 115 yards and 2 TD catches.
Defensive Player(s) of the Game
CB Kyle Arrington, after getting scorched on the Cooper pass, came back and had a good game registering a team-high 10 tackles.
Game Notes
Starters for the Patriots were:
On Offense:
LT – Light
LG – Mankins
C – Wendell
RG – Waters
RT – Vollmer
TE – Gronkowski
TE – Solder
WR – Branch
WR – Welker
QB – Brady
RB – Green-Ellis
On Defense:
DE – Ninkovich
DT – Wilfork
DT – Love
DE – Carter
LB – White
LB – Mayo
LB – Guyton
CB – Molden
CB – Arrington
S – Moore
S – Ihedigbo
Inactives for the Game:
Patriots
1. WR Chad Ochocinco (hamstring)
2. C Dan Connolly (groin)
3. S Patrick Chung (foot)
4. CB Devin McCourty (shoulder)
5. LB Brandon Spikes (MCL)
6. LB Dane Fletcher (thumb)
7. QB Ryan Mallett
Eagles
1. QB Michael Vick (ribs)
2. WR Jeremy Macklin (shoulder/hamstring)
3. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle)
4. T King Dunlap (concussion)
5. DE Brandon Graham
6. DE Phillip Hunt
7. G Julian Vandervelde
The spread (Patriots minus 3 1/2) WAS covered. The over/under (50 1/2) WAS covered as well. I GAVE the points (Patriots) and took the OVER. I am now 7-3-1 vs. the spread and 7 of 11 calling the under/over.
The overall series vs. the Eagles is now tied 6-6 including playoffs.
The Patriots are 2-5 as the road team in the series.
New England is a NFL best 62-15 in games played on or after Thanksgiving since 2001.
Since 2002 the Patriots are 9-2 vs. the NFC East in the regular season. The losing at Washington in 2003 and to the New York Giants at home this year.
Overall the Patriots are 17-24 against NFC East teams including Super Bowls.
Since 2000 have the Patriots the best road record in the NFL at 61-33. Philadelphia is second at 59-32-1.
Bill Belichick is 5-1 vs. the Eagles in his career. He is 4-0 against them as the head coach in New England and that includes one Super Bowl (1-0).
Belichick’s 185 wins are good for 9th all-time.
This Tom Brady’s 12th NFL season he is 4-0 vs. the Eagles including 1-0 in the playoffs.
Brady has thrown 28 TD’s and 10 INT’s while being sacked 20 times in 11 games.
Brady has 289 TD passes in his career he is now 8th all-time. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas is 7th with 290.
Brady has 119 career wins he is tied with Johnny Unitas for 6th all-time. Fran Tarkenton is 5th with 124.
WR Wes Welker now has catches in 93 consecutive games including playoffs, 76 as a Patriot. The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.
Welker has 8 TD’s tying his career high (2007). He now has 29 as a Patriot and is 8th on the franchise list.
WR Deion Branch’s 63 yard catch was the 3rd longest play of the season for the Patriots offense.
Branch and Welker both went over 100 yards receiving. It was Branch’s 11th 100 yard game of his career and Welker’s 21st.
The 58-yard pass the defense allowed to Riley Cooper was the longest play allowed by the defense from scrimmage this season.
WR Julian Edelman was playing a lot more defensive back this week. He even had a QB hit.
Edelman and WR Tiquan Underwood played 3rd receiver over WR Taylor Price.
With WR Chad Ochocinco out with a hamstring injury it was thought Price would finally get some time to make a dent in the rotation. Price didn’t play one snap.
New England is now plus 6 in turnover differential.
Patriots S James Ihedigbo suffered a stinger in the first half causing his arm to go numb then comeback.
T Sebastian Vollmer suffered a 2nd quarter ankle injury he did not return. He was seen in a walking boot after the game.
CB Antwaun Molden suffered a 4th quarter injury (unknown) he did not return. After the game he said he was banged up but fine.
Belichick gave the players Monday off after the win.
The two Philadelphia home losses in the series came in the last two games between the two played at the Linc.
The Eagles have lost the last four meetings between the teams, which includes Super Bowl XXXIX.
Philadelphia is 48-28 on or after Thanksgiving since 2001, that’s the 3rd best record in that time period in the NFL.
This was QB Vince Young’s second start as a member of the Eagles he is now 1-1 with Philadelphia and 31-19 including the postseason overall.
The Eagles didn’t convert on 3rd down until the 3rd quarter.
Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid is really on the hot seat with many media members speculating he may not last another week.
Eagles fans spent most of the second half chanting “FIRE ANDY!”
Eagles rookie T Julian Vandervelde (Iowa), who was inactive today, is also an accomplished opera singer and has performed in front of President Obama at the University of Iowa.
Jerome Boger was the game referee. The temp at kickoff was 63 and it was cloudy.
Game Attendance: 69,144 at Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia PA.
Voting for the Pro Bowl is open until December 19th, cast your votes for deserving players.
Post Game Interviews
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Patriots QB Tom Brady post game press conferences via patriots.com
This Week in the AFC East
NY Jets beat Buffalo, 28-24
Dallas beat Miami on Thanksgiving Day, 20-19
AFC East Standings
Patriots 8-3/3-1
Jets 6-5/3-2
Bills 5-6/1-3
Dolphins 3-8/1-2
Next Game
The Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA. Kick off is at 1 p.m. on CBS.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
