What the heck was that? Eagles even at half
FOXBORO, Mass. - Nobody was entirely sure how it happened, but a penalty-prone Eagles team actually entered halftime tied with the New England Patriots at 14.
With eight seconds left in the half, Eagles reserve linebacker Najee Goode pranced into the end zone with the tying TD. Goode scooped up the ball and ran from 24 yards after Chris Maragos squeezed through a gap and took Ryan Allen's punt right off his foot. It was New England's first blocked punt since 2009, a span of 97 games.
At the half, Tom Brady was 9 for 16 for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns; Sam Bradford, 11 for 18 for 91 and 1.
The Eagles' offensive spark came from Darren Sproles, who rushed 7 times for 44 yards in the half and caught 4 passes for 34 more.
The 10-1 Patriots were 6 for 6 on third-down conversions, yet weren't winning. The Eagles amassed 161 net yards to the Pats' 157.
The Eagles took seven first-half penalties for 92 yards, to the Pats' one penalty for 9 yards.
The Eagles' first drive actually picked up a couple of first downs, but Lane Johnson took a holding penalty on what would have been the third conversion and the momentum fizzled.
In fact, through two drives, three Eagles o-linemen were penalized, and there was a delay of game coming out of a commercial break, which should be impossible.
But toward the end of a sluggish first quarter for both teams, the Patriots started to assert themselves. They opened a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter, James White catching a 4-yard Brady touchdown pass, on which tight end Scott Chandler took out both Walt Thurmond and Mychal Kendricks, leaving White alone.
The Pats scored again on an amazing Brady pass to Danny Amendola in the corner of the end zone from 11 yards out, Brady blasted as he threw.
But an odd chip-onside kick, really superfluous, gave the Eagles the ball on their 41. They scored eight plays later, Bradford finding Zach Ertz in the back of the end zone on third and 4 from the Pats' 5.
The Pats seemed primed to go into the locker room for the half with the lead when Maragos found a gap and Goode found the ball.