Eagles edge Patriots in Week 1 in up-and-down day for Philly
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles narrowly escaped Week 1 with a 25-20 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
After opening the game with a 16-0 lead, Jalen Hurts and company nearly coughed up a double-digit lead against the Patriots.
DeVonta Smith had a touchdown, Darius Slay returned an interception for a score and Jake Elliott booted in four field goals in the win.
Eagles win in season opener
It wasn't pretty, but the Eagles escaped with a 25-20 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Week 1.
Darius Slay returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown, DeVonta Smith had a receiving touchdown and Jake Elliott booted in four field goals in the win.
Hurts completed 22 of his 32 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown. He had a fumble late in the fourth quarter that nearly cost the Eagles the game.
A.J. Brown led the team in receiving with seven catches for 79 yards.
The Eagles will play the Minnesota Vikings in their home opener on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
Patriots cut Eagles' lead
Kendrick Bourne caught his second touchdown of the game, an 11-yard score that made it 25-20. The Patriots failed to convert the two-point conversion two times after a penalty.
The Eagles will have the chance to burn the clock and escape New England with a win.
Elliott extends Eagles' lead
Jake Elliott booted in his fourth field goal of the day.
This time, it was from 51 yards out to give the Birds a 25-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Nakobe Dean questionable to return, Elliott boots in 3rd FG
Eagles starting linebacker Nakobe Dean is questionable to return with a foot injury, the team said.
In his first start as linebacker, Dean has seven tackles so far.
Meanwhile, the Eagles' drive ended with another field goal by Elliott. His third of the game, the 48-yard boot that doinked off the goal post gave the Eagles a 22-14 lead with 13:21 left in the fourth quarter.
Eagles still have lead after three quarters
Elliott booted in another field goal as the Eagles lead the Patriots, 19-14, after three-quarters of football.
Eagles lead Patriots at halftime
The Eagles lead the Patriots, 16-14, after the first half.
The Eagles got on board early, jumping to a 16-0 lead in the first quarter.
Darius Slay scored the first touchdown of the season with a 70-yard interception return after Mac Jones' pass got deflected.
And that wasn't the only turnover Philadelphia's defense forced. Second-year defensive tackle Jordan Davis forced a fumble on former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. The fumble was recovered by linebacker Zach Cunningham.
Several plays later, DeVonta Smith hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts following the turnover.
Hurts had an efficient first half, completing 9 of his 13 passes for 47 yards and the touchdown to his former Alabama teammate. But, he didn't really throw the ball downfield like we saw all throughout last season.
Kenneth Gainwell led the Eagles rushing yards with 40 yards on 10 carries.
The Eagles started off with two scoring drives on offense – a Jake Elliott field goal and Smith touchdown – but then punted four straight times before the end of the second quarter.
The Patriots got on the board late in the second quarter after Mac Jones connected with tight end Hunter Henry on a 9-yard touchdown pass.
On the following drive by the Patriots, Jones hit wideout Kendrick Bourne for a 19-yard touchdown to cut the Eagles' lead.
Patriots cut the lead
The Eagles defense has been getting killed over the middle of the field in the first half against the Patriots.
Wideout Kendrick Bourne hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jones over the middle to make it a 16-14 game.
After a slow start, Jones is now 17 for 24 for 142 passes and two scores.
Patriots get on the board
After three straight punts by the Eagles' offense, the Patriots got on the board midway through the second quarter.
Jones connected with tight end Hunter Henry for a 9-yard touchdown on a 10-play, 71-yard drive that lasted just under five minutes.
The Eagles still lead the Patriots, 16-6, with 4:34 left in the second quarter.
Eagles punt 3 straight times
After putting points on the board on their first two drives, the Eagles have punted three straight times.
After Smith's touchdown, the Eagles have only moved the ball for 8 yards on three possessions.
Luckily for the offense, the Eagles' defense has been locked in so far.
Messy special teams to start
DeVonta Smith scores TD after Pats' turnover
DeVonta Smith scored his first touchdown of the season on a 5-yard pass from Jalen Hurts following the turnover by the Patriots.
Elliott missed the PAT, but the Eagles lead 16-0 with 2:39 left in the first quarter.
Jordan Davis strips Zeke, Eagles recover
The Eagles' defense has been busy so far against the Patriots.
After Slay's interception return for a touchdown, Jordan Davis forced a fumble on Ezekiel Elliott, which was recovered by Zach Cunningham.
Darius Slay pick 6, Eagles take 10-0 lead
The Eagles' first touchdown of the season was an interception return by cornerback Darius Slay.
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones threw a pass intended for Kendrick Bourne, but the ball was tipped and picked off by Slay, who returned it 70 yards for a score to give the Eagles a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
Eagles take early lead vs. Patriots
Jake Elliott hit a 32-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead against the Patriots.
The field goal capped off a 13 play, 61 yard drive by the Eagles offense.
The drive featured a lot of Kenneth Gainwell and Jalen Hurts.
Gainwell scampered for 29 yards on six carries, while Hurts dashed for 13 on two runs.
Now, we'll get to see Sean Desai's defense for the first time.