Edelman’s touchdown throw does the trick
PHILADELPHIA — Receiver Julian Edelman threw a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Dorsett and the New England Patriots rallied for a 17-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Tom Brady threw for 216 yards, leading New England back from a 10-0 deficit, but it was Edelman who found a target in the end zone. It was the first time in Brady’s career that another player on his team had more touchdown passes when he played the entire game.
“Good read on the play,” coach Bill Belichick said. “Keeps his quarterback rating up there pretty high. I’m sure he’ll ice his shoulder this week, massage it. Great play by Julian.”
Brady wasn’t happy with the offense’s performance despite a victory that guaranteed the Patriots (9-1) a winning season for the 19th consecutive season. “We could do everything better,” he said. The defense again led the way. The Patriots sacked Carson Wentz five times, forced one turnover and another that was overturned to give the Eagles a touchdown.
“I felt like we gave up three points,” Belichick said. “We got an interception. They overturned it.”
Wentz couldn’t get much going without his two best receivers and top running back sidelined by injuries. Nelson Agholor couldn’t make a twisting catch on Wentz’s fourth-down heave into the end zone from the Patriots’ 26 with just under a minute left.
The Eagles (5-5) got the ball back and advanced to their 42, but Wentz’s pass fell incomplete.
After settling for three field goals in the first half, the Patriots turned to a trick play.
Brady drove them to the Eagles’ 15 on the opening possession of the third quarter. On third and 11, Brady tossed a backward pass to Edelman. The former Kent State quarterback fired a pass to Dorsett, who was alone in the end zone. It was Edelman’s second touchdown pass. The other came in New England’s playoff victory over Baltimore in January 2015.
“It’s cool they trust me to throw the ball,” Edelman said. “It’s fun to throw the pill sometimes.”