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I was ambivalent. You know…mixed emotions. I’m a long-time Patriots rooter; yet, I believed that they were vulnerable going into the Eagles game.
I had predicted that the score would be Eagles 26, Patriots 17. I got the Patriots score right, but the Eagles, after a quick start, came to a screeching halt. If you bet "The Under"...
No “sour grapes.” Bill Belichick is: “The Master of Preparation.”
First, I thought the Patriots’ “unsung hero” was their punter, Jake Bailey. His boots constantly put the Eagles in poor field position throughout the game. The Patriots got some receiving help from three seemingly unlikely sources: Ben Watson, Rex Burkhead, and N’Keal Harry.
Second, there is no doubt that the Eagles missed running back, Jordan Howard. He’s the kind of punishing runner that would have likely given the Patriots trouble.
And to think that the only Patriots TD was a pass thrown by the former Kent State QB Julian Edelman to Phillip Dorsett (Philadelphia should have been called for “targeting” on the TD play as the Eagles’ defender speared Dorsett (he left the game with a concussion).
Yet, I felt there was some questionable officiating. Those calls, or should I say, lack thereof, may well have changed the complexion of the game. There was one where the Patriots tight end, Matt LaCosse, fumbled. It was called incomplete, not a fumble. As it turns out, the play could not be challenged. If the call had been reversed, the Eagles would have been “sitting pretty” on the Patriots 30.
Another play involved Edelman breaking up a pass intended for him. I thought for sure the officials were going to call him for offensive pass-interference.
Once again, it was the Patriots defense, e. g., Kyle Van Noy (“MVP…MVP”), Terrence Brooks, Danny Shelton, etc. who did an excellent job of stuffing the run and putting pressure of Wentz. The Patriots defense held the Eagles to just 81-yards rushing on 21 carries. Carson Wentz (“nervous feet” in the pocket) was just 20 for 40 for a modest 214 yards. His biggest play was that pass interference call on the first offensive play of the game (after that it was, for the most part, downhill for the Eagles; they did lead 10-0 midway through the 2nd quarter).
In conclusion, I believe the Patriots deserved the win. They were the better team. It wasn’t “sexy,” but as they say, “A win is a win is a win.” Next Sunday: At home against Dallas.
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Walt (Teach)
"Walt, make a 'mental bet' and lose your mind." R.N.S.
"The important thing is what I think of myself."
"David and Lisa" (1962)
Last edited by Teach; 11-18-2019 at 09:23 AM.
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