The New England Patriots pulled off a wild 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, snagging the win thanks to a clutch deep touchdown pass from Behren Morton to wide receiver Nick DeGennaro that completely flipped the script. This wasn’t some routine preseason outing, not with how it ended!
DeVito’s Wild Ride and Philly’s Early Punch
With the big guns like Drake Maye chilling on the sideline, Tommy DeVito stepped up to lead the Patriots’ offense, and man, it was a ride. Things didn’t start smooth, though. A holding call on James Hudson III immediately backed them up. But then, Lan Larison broke loose on a screen for a massive 28-yard gain, getting them near midfield. Just when it felt like they had momentum, DeVito’s throw to Kyle Williams on third down sailed just out of bounds, forcing a punt. The Eagles, with Andy Dalton under center, weren’t messing around either. Will Shipley ripped off an 18-yard gain, but their drive stalled, too.
DeVito tried to get things going again with a seven-yard scramble and short completions to Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams, sparking a couple of new sets of downs. But Jeremiah Trotter Jr. from the Eagles had other plans, absolutely blowing up the backfield for a sack. After a monster 61-yard punt from Bryce Baringer pinned Philly deep, Britain Covey responded with a 21-yard return, giving them some breathing room. Then Darius Cooper hauled in two extended completions for a total of 38 yards, pushing the Eagles into Patriots territory. Shipley kept the ground game churning, getting them down to the five-yard line. When the second quarter kicked off, Shipley finished the job, punching it in up the middle for the first touchdown of the game. Jake Elliott hit the extra point, and suddenly it was 7-0 Eagles. The Patriots responded with DeVito scampering for 36 yards to get them into Eagles territory, but the drive stalled, and Andy Borregales came through with a 41-yard field goal, getting New England on the board. By halftime, DeVito’s offense was trailing 14-10 after Philadelphia engineered a quick 62-yard drive to reclaim their lead in under two minutes. Talk about a swift punch to the gut!
The Fourth Quarter Flip: Morton Steps Up!
The second half was a back-and-forth slugfest, with both teams trading touchdowns in the fourth quarter. It felt like every possession was critical, even in preseason. But it was the *final* Patriots drive that sealed the deal, a play no one saw coming. When Behren Morton uncorked that deep touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro, the stadium just erupted. That wasn’t just a score; it was a statement. It swapped the outcome, going from trailing to winning, 24-21, just like that.
What a finish, right? This game showed off some serious resilience and gave some of these backup guys a chance to shine under pressure. For the Patriots, seeing players like Morton and DeGennaro step up with the game on the line? That’s what you want in the preseason. It’s all about finding that hidden depth and seeing who can deliver when it counts. They’ve got to be feeling good about that comeback. Now, the big question is, who else steps up next time?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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