Patriots at Eagles - Third Quarter Observations
The Patriots had the ball to start the third quarter, and added another touchdown to extend their lead to 31-13 as we head into the fourth quarter.
 Welker scored a touchdown for New England in the third quarter. (FILE:Icon/SMI) |
Wes Welker opened the third quarter with his second touchdown of the day, which came on a 9-yard catch and run where he reached the ball out over the pylon and capped an 8 play 69 yard drive. That put New England up 31-13 with 11:27 to go in the third quarter.
Kyle Arrington then made a big play on the next Eagles possession, drilling Jason Avant and forcing an incompletion. He hit Avant so hard that he got upended, and was left laying on the turf where trainers had to come out and attend to him.
Julian Edelman then made the next big play following a 25-yard completion to Clay Harbor, where Vince Young attempted to scramble on a 2nd and 8 play. On the play Edelman shook off his blocker, and then broke down and tackled Young before he could pick up the first down. One play later LeSean McCoy rushed for no gain on 3rd-and-1 at the Patriots two yard line. That lead to a 4th-and-1 pass attempt by Vince Young that fell incomplete, and the Eagles turned it over on downs.
Eagles fans immediately started chanting "Andy Sucks", followed by "Fire Andy." Definitely ugly times in Philadelphia right now, and there's still over a quarter left to go before it's over.
New England picked up 31 yards on 6 plays on the next drive, but were forced to punt and got a beauty from Zoltan Mesko, who punted 55 yards down to the Eagles 12 yard line.
On Philadelphia's ensuing drive, the Eagles got into New England territory, but couldn't get much going and were eventually forced to punt. Highlights from this drive included a deep pass to Jason Avant, who had the ball knocked out of his hands at the last moment in the endzone by Sergio Brown. One play later Julian Edelman hit Vince Young on a third down play to force an incompletion and another Eagles punt.
New England still leads 31-13 as we move on to the fourth quarter.
