The Eagles needed someone, anyone to step up and make a play.
Finally, a bunch of guys did.
Chris Maragos blocked a punt and Najee Goode returned it for a touchdown. Walter Thurmond broke up a pass that Malcolm Jenkins picked off and took 99 yards for a score. Darren Sproles took a punt return 83 yards to the house.
And the Eagles somehow took down Tom Brady and the mighty Patriots, 35-28, in a crazy, “what-the-heck-just-happened?” game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.
Everyone saw this one coming, right?
After going down 14-0 early, the Eagles scored 35 unanswered points to go up 35-14 and were eventually able to hold on. The Eagles scored two touchdowns on special teams, two on offense and one on defense.
The Patriots made it interesting at the end, when they scored, recovered an onside kick and drove down the field again to make it a one-score game. They even got the ball back with a chance to tie after a Kenjon Barner fumble, but the Eagles’ defense was able to seal it by forcing a turnover on downs.
With the win, the Eagles improved to 5-7 and snapped their three-game losing skid. They have the same record as the Giants, and if the Redskins lose on Monday night, all three teams would be 5-7.
With the loss, the Patriots fell to 10-2 and have lost back-to-back games for the first time since the beginning of the 2012 season.
First half
The Eagles were about to go into the locker room down a touchdown but Maragos blocked a punt late in the second quarter and Goode picked it up and returned it 24 yards for the touchdown. That tied the game at 14-14.
The Eagles scored the last 14 points of the first half to tie the game. Their first touchdown came on a 59-yard scoring drive after the Patriots tried a drop kick onside kick. The touchdown came on a pass from Sam Bradford to Zach Ertz. It was Ertz’s first touchdown of the year.
The Patriots scored their two first-half touchdowns after 80-yard drives.
The Eagles actually outgained the Patriots, 161-157, in the first half, but also had seven penalties for 92 yards.
Turning point
Maragos’ blocked punt was huge. It tied the game up at the end of the first half, when it looked like the Eagles were definitely going to be trailing going into the locker room.
Key stat
The Eagles went three straight games without a takeaway on defense until Sunday. When Jenkins intercepted Brady’s pass and went 99 yards to score, it was the defense’s first takeaway since Jordan Hicks’ pick-six in Dallas on Nov. 8.
Offensive stud
Sproles and Barner both had a bigger impact than DeMarco Murray. Sproles was featured as a runner and a receiver.
Bradford also had a very solid performance in his return after missing two games.
Offensive dud
Murray continued to be ineffective. He finished with 24 yards on eight carries. He had five carries for one yard in the first half.
Defensive stud
The Eagles had a good day rushing Brady. And obviously, the interception and return from Thurmond and Jenkins was huge.
Defensive dud
Kiko Alonso actually made a couple plays, but sometimes he just looks lost.
Injuries
Defensive end Cedric Thornton (ankle) was held out of Sunday’s game. Taylor Hart started in his place.
Up next
The Eagles are at home for their next three games against Buffalo, Arizona and Washington. They’ll finish the regular season on the road to face the Giants.
Photo Credit: John Clark
