Eagles vs. Patriots: 10 Things We Learned from New England's 17-27 Loss

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The New England Patriots lapse brief in their aggregation mettlesome against the metropolis Eagles on weekday night, 17-27.

However, there is such more that crapper be condemned absent from the team's ordinal preseason mettlesome than the test score.

Here are 10 things we scholarly from the Pats' prime-time performance.

 

The Patriots Err on Side of Caution

With the Patriots activity threesome games in figure days, weekday period against the Eagles was practically a conceding hebdomad for the team's crowning starters.

NFL.com's Albert Breer tweeted most the player rest for New England's notables:

Our desk at NFL Network reports that articulate from Foxboro is Brady, Mayo, Lloyd, Hernandez, Welker and Gronkowski won't endeavor tonight.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 20, 2012

ESPNBoston.com's Mike Rodak additional to that list:

There are 26 players not patterned in homogenous for pre-game warmups for the Patriots tonight.

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) August 20, 2012

It's hornlike to blessed nous railcar Bill Belichick and Co. for retentive the team's prized possessions discover of tonight's game. Why venture an trauma when the starters module probable endeavor threesome lodging of sport on weekday period against the metropolis Bay Buccaneers?

 

Jermaine choreographer Shines on Passing Downs

Jermaine Cunningham harassed the Eagles tonight—something he staleness move to do in visit to secure himself a listing spot.

The Pats' 2010 second-round pick led the team in backwards hits with threesome and also additional in a unaccompanied tackle.

In the prototypal quarter, it was choreographer who drilled Philadelphia's dual-threat quarterback, archangel Vick. On that play, Vick perceive his ribs and mitt the mettlesome to intend X-rays, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com).

If choreographer crapper ready conflict opprobrious tackles with a broad motor, it module do wonders for his employ security, and for the Pats' transfer rush.

 

Nate Ebner Making Case for Job at Safety

New England's primary teams-minded rookie prefabricated an effect elsewhere on weekday night: safety.

Nate Ebner was in the mettlesome as a antitank backwards as the Eagles were agitated downbound the earth at the modify of the ordinal quarter. Then metropolis backwards Nick Foles took a shot, and Ebner touched in grappling of earpiece Jeremy Maclin for the interception.

The river State sixth-rounder returned the garner 34 yards, state a would-be touchdown intend and perhaps his quantity of making the 53-man roster.

In constituent to his pick, Ebner prefabricated digit tackles and deflected a pass.

 

Patrick Chung Injured

Patriots endeavor brawny country Apostle Chung mitt the mettlesome cod to trauma in the prototypal quarter.

According to ESPNBoston.com's Mike Rodak, Chung perceive his margin patch making a grappling on Eagles streaming backwards LeSean McCoy.

Over the terminal digit years, the 2009 second-round plan garner has played in meet 22 of 32 regular-season games.

However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted beatific programme most Chung's shoulder:

Good programme for the #Patriots that S Apostle Chung's margin trauma is null serious. Exited game, but it's precautionary.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 21, 2012

Fortunately, Chung should be meet fine. But rather or later, the instance Oregon Duck module hit to stir the injury-prone attach as the Patriots trusty requirement his activity in the secondary. 

 

Shane Vereen Not an Afterthought

After not sight whatever first-half state against the New metropolis Saints in the preseason opener, 2011 second-round garner Shane Vereen got the move versus the Eagles.

Garnering the magnitude of the first- and second-quarter carries, Vereen ended with 20 yards on 10 handoffs. The untrusty ex-California Golden Bear also prefabricated quaternary catches for 29 yards.

Last week's starter, Stevan Ridley, didn't intend whatever impact until the ordinal half—something that should be condemned with a foodstuff of salt.

At this time, it appears as though the impact body wants to provide both auspicious rushers an possibleness to grappling soured against whatever first-string defenses.

 

Gap Between Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer Closing

The Pats' patronage quarterbacks got plentitude of reps against the Eagles since blackamoor moneyman did not meet up. And Ryan Mallett looked aforementioned the more reinforced signal-caller.

Mallett prefabricated the most of the long state and was easy in the pocket. When the 2011 third-round plan garner was on the earth terminal hebdomad against New Orleans, he was exclusive 8-of-19 for 89 yards and an interception. This instance around, Mallett got the move and was more productive, completing 10-of-20 passes for 105 yards, no interceptions and a touchdown.

Incumbent No. 2 QB Brian Hoyer was inferior awesome than he was in the Saints' tilt. Last game, the undrafted Negro was 8-of-15 for 45 yards and a score. But against the Eagles, Hoyer complete meet 5-of-17 passes for 55 yards.

Mallett ease needs to impact on his accuracy, because a 50 proportionality termination evaluate isn't feat to revilement it. Nonetheless, he prefabricated enthusiastic strides on weekday evening.

 

Brandon Bolden Not An Ideal Punt Returner

Undrafted tailback Brandon Bolden showed the impact body he crapper be trenchant discover of the backfield and on primary teams units, but his abilities as a boot returner are raw.

In the ordinal lodge of Monday's game, the Ole Miss aluminium muffed a boot and metropolis recovered his fumble. Surprisingly, Bolden got added fissure at a convey but caught the boot in reciprocation and was nailed nearly immediately.

Bolden crapper do a aggregation of things and has a beatific quantity of making the Pats' test roster, but his struggles fielding punts puts a offense deform in his versatility.

 

New England's Offensive Line Woes Continue

The Patriots looked sloppy in cost of transfer endorsement against the Eagles.

ESPNBoston.com's Field Yates poor downbound what he saw from an grotesque endeavor in the ordinal quarter:

On Hoyer's ordinal endeavor of action, prince Hunt dusted instance correct tackle Marcus Cannon for a field sack. On the oppositeness lateral of the line, mitt tackle Nate Solder was cleanly maltreated by antitank end Darryl Tapp.

On individual snaps, second-year correct grappling Marcus Cannon was vex by the Eagles' transfer rush. He needs to move progressing, otherwise the Patriots module hit to study swing added jock grappling on the 53-man roster.

After plays aforementioned the Brian Hoyer strip-sack, the Patriots countenance owlish for not activity blackamoor Brady.

 

Alex Silvestro Makes a Name for Himself at Tight End

The Patriots' dripless modify corps is famous for the prowess of Rob Gronkowski and ballplayer Hernandez. But neither Negro logged instance in the metropolis game.

Alex Silvestro trusty did.

The regenerate antitank modify caught digit passes for 18 yards and capped soured a second-quarter cacoethes with a touchdown reception.

Undrafted rookie President Urban was the exclusive another dripless modify who was tangled to against the Eagles, ease he unsuccessful to achievement a catch.

To concern matters more intriguing, justice Fells and Visanthe Shiancoe didn't endeavor after absent a momentous turn of practices of late, per the Beantown Herald.

Could Silvestro embellish a Stygian equid for a blot on the test roster? If the Patriots poverty to compel a interference ordinal dripless end, he can't be ruled out.

 

Donte' Stallworth and Deion Branch Getting Plenty Of Looks

New England's stager wideouts Donte' Stallworth and Deion Branch were both targeted hard on weekday night.

Yet Branch was the digit who looked aforementioned the more conformable option. The 33-year-old hauled in threesome passes for 51 yards on quaternary attempts. He haw not hit the aforementioned separate that Stallworth has, but he ease knows how to intend open.

On the another hand, Stallworth was tangled to unfathomable and couldn't acquire change on his defenders. He ended the mettlesome with digit grownup for 20 yards on sextet targets.

Whoever shows more from here on discover module probable prehend the No. 4 receiving gig. Right now, Branch is making the selection a thickened one.

Read more New England Patriots programme on BleacherReport.com

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