The New England Patriots snagged a wild 24-21 preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday night, but it was rookie Behren Morton who absolutely stole the show with a game-winning touchdown throw. This isn’t just another exhibition game; with the 53-man roster deadline looming, that kind of clutch performance could mean everything for a young QB trying to make his mark.
Morton’s Clutch Drive Steals the Show, DeVito Solid
Tommy DeVito, the Patriots’ No. 2 quarterback, kicked things off with a solid performance, going 8-of-15 for 151 yards. He threw one touchdown and, critically, had zero turnovers across his six drives. DeVito even showed some wheels, scrambling for 44 yards, including a sweet 36-yard sprint. He connected with Kyle Williams on a huge 69-yard go route for a touchdown, Williams’ second in as many weeks. That play alone gave the Patriots a 10-7 lead. You gotta love seeing a QB protect the ball while still making big plays. But then Behren Morton, the No. 234 overall pick from Texas Tech, came in during the third quarter and absolutely lit it up. The kid went 13-of-17 for 129 yards and tossed a touchdown of his own. Down 21-17, his deep shot to the end zone got lost in the lights, but he came right back and hit undrafted wideout Nick DeGennaro for a 38-yard score, capping off an 11-play, 73-yard drive to snatch the 24-21 victory. And get this, Morton was also punting in relief! Talk about doing it all.
O-Line Woes Threaten to Derail Everything
While the QBs were doing their thing, the offensive line looked like a total mess. Injuries are already piling up, with proven backup Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich out. The starting five on Saturday night was a new arrangement, and it struggled big time. Rookie left tackle Caleb Lomu, the No. 28 overall pick, gave up a sack late in the first half. Right guard James Hudson III got flagged for two holding penalties on the very first drive. But the worst news? Sophomore right tackle Marcus Bryant had his left ankle rolled up just five snaps in and was ruled out almost immediately. His replacement, rookie sixth-rounder Dametrious Crownover, then promptly committed a false start. The Eagles hit home for four sacks by game’s end. This isn’t just about a few bad plays; this is a unit that is constantly reshuffling and taking hits, and it’s getting hard to ignore how much trouble they’re in.
With the preseason finale next up, followed by the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline, these guys have one more shot to show what they’re made of. For Morton, his game-winning heroics probably secured his spot, but that offensive line? They need to figure things out, fast, or it could be a long season for whoever is under center.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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