Eagles Hold on For Win vs. Patriots After Nearly Blowing Lead
On a rain-soaked Gillette Stadium field, the Philadelphia Eagles proved to be just a little too slippery for the host New England Patriots in Sunday's season opener, though the Patriots recovered to make an exciting game of it after spotting their opponent a 16-0 lead.
Regardless, the Eagles prevailed 25-20 in what turned out to be a defensive scrum after a high-scoring first quarter.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts and the rest of the Eagles' offense were stifled for the better part of three quarters but received a key defensive assist from cornerback Darius Slay, who scored on a 70-yard interception return in the first quarter. The Eagles were given an even bigger boost by kicker Jake Elliott, who kicked four field goals, including bombs from 56, 48 and 51 yards.
In the end, their defense bailed them out with two crucial fourth-quarter stops that came after they squelched a two-point conversion attempt that set the final score.
The last came after Eagles coach Nick Sirianni kept his offense on the field for a highly questionable 4th-and-2 attempt from the New England 44. Hurts tried to connect with DeVonta Smith over the middle, but it was broken up by rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez with 1:57 remaining.
From there, Jones drove the Patriots as far as the Philadelphia 19 before being stopped on downs when a fourth-down pass to Kayshon Boutte that was originally ruled a completion was overturned on replay.
The way the game began, it looked like the Eagles would run away with it by halftime.
Instead, the Patriots would go to intermission trailing by just two points, thanks to second-quarter touchdown catches by Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne.
On the game's opening series, the Eagles held the ball for 14 plays and more than seven minutes before settling for a 32-yard field goal by Elliott.
Their defense struck next when Slay returned an interception of a tipped pass 70 yards for a touchdown to squelch the Patriots' first series in the worst possible way.
Another turnover by New England on its second series set the Eagles up for another touchdown. This time, it came on their first play from scrimmage when Zeke Elliott lost a fumble at the line of scrimmage that was forced by Jordan Davis and recovered by Zach Cunningham at the Patriots' 26-yard line.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts releases a pass in season opener vs. Patriots.
Four plays and one New England penalty later, receiver DeVonta Smith was unveiling his first touchdown celebration of the season, cradling the football like a newborn baby with his teammates coming over to do the same shortly after he caught a 5-yard dart from Hurts.
About the only thing that didn't go the Eagles way in the first quarter was Elliott pushing his extra-point attempt wide right after Smith's score.
Still, the 16-0 score after 15 minutes was the fourth most lopsided lead by an opponent ever against a Bill Belichick-coached team.
Not that it mattered. The Patriots rebounded to win two of those previous three games.
They almost did the same here, thanks to a great game by quarterback Mac Jones (35-for-54, 316 yards, three touchdowns) and a defense that limited the Eagles to just nine first downs over the final three quarters.
