Philly Leader

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Philadelphia Eagles secured another preseason victory with a narrow 14-13 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday night. A decisive 7-play, 70-yard drive concluded with a Kendall Milton 1-yard touchdown run, bringing the Eagles within one point of the Patriots. Quarterback Tanner McKee then connected with wide receiver Ainias Smith for a successful 2-point conversion, giving the Eagles the lead.

The defense played a crucial role as linebacker Brandon Smith recovered a fumble after a poor snap to Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe with 1:47 remaining. This allowed the Eagles to maintain possession and run out the clock for their second consecutive preseason win.

Edge player Bryce Huff made notable contributions early in the game by stopping a running play and effectively defending against a screen pass to receiver DeMario Douglas. Safety Avonte Maddox also received recognition for his performance, intercepting a pass intended for tight end Austin Hooper and returning it 47 yards.

Running back Kenneth Gainwell demonstrated consistent hard-running ability despite facing New England's starting defense. Linebacker Nakobe Dean led the defense with five tackles, including an impressive hustle play that highlighted his relentless effort.

Tight end E.J. Jenkins emerged as a standout performer by catching five passes for 47 yards, raising questions about who will secure the team's third tight end position. Quarterback Tanner McKee impressed by completing 15-of-19 passes for 140 yards and achieving a passer rating of 97.4.

Despite playing primarily second- and third-team players against New England's starters, Philadelphia's defense held strong, limiting the Patriots to just 182 total yards and forcing five three-and-out series.

The battle for depth positions along the defensive line remains competitive, with Thomas Booker IV standing out during this game. Head Coach Nick Sirianni praised offensive tackle Fred Johnson for his continued development and work ethic during Training Camp.

The Eagles controlled possession for over 34 minutes but faced challenges on two fourth-down attempts without quarterback Jalen Hurts. The team looks forward to seeing how their offense performs in the regular season.