The New England Patriots continued their preseason on Saturday night, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 at Gillette Stadium following two joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.
As Drake Maye and the rest of the starters rested, New England turned to backup Tommy DeVito to lead the offense.
DeVito’s offense trailed at halftime as Philadelphia drove 62 yards downfield in under two minutes to reclaim a 14-10 lead. Both teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it was Behren Morton’s deep touchdown pass to wide receiver Nick DeGennaro that swapped the outcome and sealed New England’s victory.
Final score: Patriots 24 : 21 Eagles
Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA | Broadcast information | Game day roster
The Patriots started at their own 20-yard line after a holding call on James Hudson III on first down. A Lan Larison screen with an open field ahead advanced New England 28 yards near midfield. However, on the following third down, Tommy DeVito’s late throw toward the right sideline was placed too far out of bounds for Kyle Williams to reach.
A Bryce Baringer punt then placed the Eagles at their own 22. Running back Will Shipley broke loose for an 18-yard gain, but Philadelphia’s drive shortly ended following two Andy Dalton incompletions. Braden Mann’s 39-yard punt sets the Patriots up at their own 16 halfway through the first quarter.
On New England’s following drive, a DeVito seven-yard scramble and a pair of short completions to Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams sparked two new sets of downs for the offense. That said, Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had other plans, breaking into the backfield and sacking the Patriots’ quarterback.
Bryce Baringer pinned Philadelphia at its own two with a 61-yard punt, but Britain Covey returned the kick 21 yards to give the opposing offense room to operate. Two extended completions to wide receiver Darius Cooper totaling 38 yards helped the Eagles break into Patriots territory, and a string of efficient Shipley runs has their offense with a new set of downs at the home team’s five-yard line.
Opening a new frame of play, Shipley finishes the job, breaking into the end zone on a rush up the middle to put Philadelphia ahead before a successful Jake Elliott extra-point attempt. [Patriots 0 : Eagles 7]
New England, beginning its next drive at its own 18, broke into Eagles territory with DeVito scrambling 36 yards to Philadelphia’s 37. That said, two incompletions and a four-yard JaMycal Hasty carry feel short of the first-down markers. Kicker Andy Borregales delivered a 41-yard field goal to put the Patriots on the board. [Patriots 3 : Eagles 7]
Then, the Patriots’ defense made a stand, forcing the Eagles’ offense to a three-and-out. Second-round rookie Gabe Jacas quickly pressured Dalton off the edge on second down, and two Kindle Vildor pass breakups on first and third put the offense in a difficult spot. The cornerback nearly returned an interception to the end zone on the first play of the drive, but a Jacas roughing-the-passer call eliminated the turnover.
DeVito’s offense, taking over at their own 23, passed midfield after the signal-caller connected with Chism over the middle and more for a 24-yard gain. That said, Philadelphia defensive tackle Ty Robinson blew by center Jacob Rizy to sack DeVito and force a punt. And unexpectedly, quarterback Behren Morton is called upon to deliver a kick that falls into the end zone for a touchback with just under seven minutes remaining in the opening half.
Following a short-lived Eagles drive, second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams quickly won his matchup, releasing off the line of scrimmage and hauling in a 69-yard touchdown pass from DeVito to claim New England’s first lead of the night. [Patriots 10 : Eagles 7]
Philadelphia, operating under a short clock with just three minutes remaining, found the end zone for a score. From the Patriots’ 14-yard line, Covey caught a short pass, navigating the middle of the field after the catch. A pair of Carson Steele dump-offs totaled 30 yards, with an unnecessary roughness call on Mike Brown adding to the bleeding. [Patriots 10 : Eagles 14]
With just over one minute on the clock, New England had a chance to regain their lead, but another Robinson sack ended their drive prematurely.
The Eagles fielded a punt shortly after, yet outside linebacker Amari Gainer closed the pocket and recorded a sack on quarterback Tanner McKee to close out the first half.
A Borregales kickoff touchback placed Philadelphia at its own 35-yard line to begin the second half. The opposing offense marched all the way down to the Patriots’ 12-yard line but was stopped on third down. Deciding to go for a fourth-down try, McKee floated a pass to tight end E.J. Jenkins in the back left corner of the end zone. In coverage, rookie linebacker Namdi Obiazor broke up the pass to force a turnover on downs.
Taking over on offense inside the 10, Behren Morton’s opening drive was short-lived after a split-sack on third down between Eagles outside linebackers Joshua Weru and Jose Ramirez. Morton converted an early third-down snap, finding a wide-open Hasty in the flat for a nine-yard gain, but couldn’t recover from a Tejhaun Palmer offensive pass interference call.
Philadelphia soon took over at New England’s 49-yard line halfway through the third frame; however, the Patriots’ pass rush heavily disrupted the Eagles’ offense. On third-and-one, defensive tackle Eric Gregory wrapped up Steele behind the line of scrimmage before Leonard Taylor III forced a quick pressure and tipped McKee’s pass on fourth down.
Morton, with another chance, led New England’s offense downfield during a steady drive. On third and long, the Texas Tech product converted, firing a pass to Palmer, who corralled the ball through physical coverage on a slant. Then, rookie running back Jam Miller slipped free for 20 yards after cutting back inside, rushing into the red zone as the clock ran out.
At the start of the final quarter, Larison closed out the drive, punching the ball in at the goal line after a 10-yard rush. Borregales split the uprights on the extra-point attempt. [Patriots 17 : Eagles 14]
That touchdown series extended the defense’s intense energy into the fourth as the unit forced a second consecutive three-and-out Philadelphia drive.
The Patriots, beginning their next drive at their own 23-yard line with 12:25 remaining, were knocking on the door of Eagles territory, preparing to run the ball from their 49. Hasty, turning toward the left sideline, lost the ball as familiar face Shaun Wade knocked it loose.
With favorable field positioning at midfield, Philadelphia marched downfield 52 yards in nine plays to reclaim its lead with 3:39 set on the clock. On a pivotal third down, McKee connected with Steele in the flat, who sprinted toward the front right pylon and leapt over safety Eric Butler to secure the touchdown. [Patriots 17 : Eagles 21]
Under pressure from the clock, Morton threw two third-down conversions en route to a 37-yard DeGennaro score down the right sideline. Borregales then split the uprights on the extra point, capping off an 11-play, 73-yard game-winning drive. [Patriots 24 : Eagles 21]
And as the Eagles lined up for one last drive, seventh-round Quintayvious Hutchins sealed the game with a strip-sack on Cole Payton.
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