Eagles stun Pats

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There was no way Philadelphia would win this game at New England. Entering the game with a record of 4-7, the Eagles would get shellacked by the 10-1 Patriots. The Eagles had suffered three consecutive losses -- by a combined score of 110-50 -- and four losses in their last five games. After a 45-14 undressing last week at the hands of the lowly Lions, Chip Kelly's team had all but quit on him. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis was feeling the heat, too.

The Eagles were reeling and would be lucky to escape Gillette Stadium without being embarrassed by the powerhouse Patriots. This game would be more of a scrimmage, allowing the Patriots to pad their stats and get back on track after a loss to the Broncos last week.

Midway through the second quarter, it appeared the predetermined script would play out just as it had been written.

Apparently the Eagles never read that script, shocking New England with a 35-28 win. It is arguably the upset of the season.

"I've always been proud of them," Kelly said. "I told those guys that. I think that sometimes they don't see in them what I see in them. I know we have a good football team and I think they showed it today and they've shown it at other times during this season, and the last two weeks we didn't show it."

The victory improves the Eagles to 5-7, dropping the Patriots to 10-2. The Eagles' win, combined with the Giants' loss to the Jets on Sunday, puts Philly back in playoff contention, just a half game behind Washington, which plays Monday, in the NFC East.

After the game, music was blaring in the Eagles locker room and linebacker Brandon Graham could be heard shouting to owner Jeffrey Lurie, "You fired me up today."

"[Lurie] talks to everybody before every game, so he's usually in the locker room and walks around to the players individually," Kelly said. "He didn't give a speech or anything, but Jeff, he's as good an owner as I've ever been around."

Kelly made some key personnel moves entering the game. Quarterback Sam Bradford was back after missing the last two games with an AC joint sprain. Running back DeMarco Murray had a reduced role, with veteran running back Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner getting more time. Wide receiver Miles Austin was inactive, with rookie Jonathan Krause playing.

With just under eight minutes left in the first half, the Eagles trailed New England, 14-0. Philadelphia was having trouble mustering any offensive traction, while the penalities piled up.

But Patriots head coach Bill Belichick decided to get cute on the kickoff after the second touchdown. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski tossed the football to Nate Ebner who inexplicably attempted a dropkick onside kick. The ball was recovered by Eagles wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu on the Philadelphia 41.

"I think everything we did, we're trying to do what we think is best," Belichick said. "There wasn't a tremendous downside to the play."

Asked if Ebner, a defensive back, was supposed to put air on the ball to execute it as a jump ball or to hit the ground like a typical onside kick, Belichick replied: "We don't have time for all that."

Ajirotutu did not attempt to advance, but the play appeared to set in motion some weird events, sending the Patriots into a stupor while awakening the Eagles.

Philly victimized the Pats in almost every facet of the game after the trick play, most notably on special teams. Earlier in the week, Belichick said the Eagles may have one of the best special teams his squad will face this season. He wasn't kidding.

Philadelphia scored the next 35 points before New England could respond. Eight plays after the dropkick, Bradford connected on a 5-yard pass over the middle to Zach Ertz to cut the deficit.

With 15 seconds left in the first half, the Eagles' Chris Maragos blocked a punt attempt by Ryan Allen. Najee Goode recovered it and ran it 24 yards for a touchdown to tie the game.

"It's just been great execution all week," Maragos said. "Coach had a great plan and put together a really good scheme, but my teammates made the block for me."

Belichick was his typically blunt self about the play: "We blew it."

With 7:42 remaining in the third, Malcolm Jenkins intercepted a Tom Brady pass intended for Danny Amendola and ran it back 99 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eagles the lead with the point after of 21-14.

Just a few minutes later Sproles returned Allen's punt 83 yards for a touchdown. With Caleb Sturgis' point after, the Eagles led, 28-14.

By that point, the shock resonating through Gillette Stadium was palpable.

And while the Pats went on a late run in the fourth quarter to cut a three-touchdown deficit to one, it wasn't enough to salvage the game. This marked the Pats' first two-game losing streak since Weeks 2 and 3 in 2012; they have lost consecutive post-Thanksgiving games only twice before in the Brady era, most recently in 2009.

Bradford, who was 4-for-9 for 18 yards after the first quarter, finished 14-for-24 for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Darren Sproles finished with a game-high 15 carries for 66 yards, and four receptions for 34 yards and an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Brady was 29-for-56 for 312 yards with three touchdowns, getting sacked four times and throwing two interceptions. He was without two of his favorite targets, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, both out with injuries. Perhaps their presence would have made a difference in the game.

"We've got to do a better job," Brady said. "I think that's just what it comes down to. No one can do your job for you and the execution of certain plays. ... I've got to make good decisions with the ball."

But give the Eagles credit: They silenced the doubters. At least for one week.

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