Five Big-Picture Takeaways from Eagles Week 13 Win vs Patriots

Dec 6, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; The Philadelphia Eagles celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

3.)  Special Teams Still Capable of Special Moments

Earlier this season, I remarked at how pedestrian the Eagles special teams unit had appeared. A group composed of a handful of ‘aces’ gathered in free agency over the years that had starred in 2014 looked painfully ordinary throughout the majority of the first 11 games of the season. With the exception of Zach Ertz’s mishandling of a 4th quarter onsides kick, Dave Fipp’s unit put on an absolute clinic. Not only were the Eagles special teams groups fundamentally and schematically sound, but they showed what a weapon they can be against a team that doesn’t take that phase of the game for granted.

Chris Maragos continues to find different ways to jump off the screen no matter what role he’s serving. His blocked punt just before the half that led to Najee Goode’s scoop-and-score touchdown changed the entire dynamic of where both team’s were mentally as they went into the locker room. New England was less than a minute away from going into the half with a seven point lead and the opportunity to discuss their strategy to close out the win. Instead, they had to dwell on a demoralizing special teams miscue while a fired-up Eagles team rallied behind the play as they found themselves surprisingly tied with the heavily-favored Patriots.

While Ertz’s miscue on the Patriots lone onsides kick recovery was a blemish, the Eagles’ handling of the two other attempts over the course of the game were both impressive for different reasons. Bill Belichick’s decision to have his kicking team try and sneak a drop kick over the front line of the Eagles receiving unit after going up 14-0 brought about no panic from the visitors as Seyi Ajirotutu secured the live ball. The Eagles parlayed the prime field position into their first score of the game. In the 4th quarter, with the Patriots within seven and three minutes on the clock, Riley Cooper’s heads up decision to deflect the onsides kick attempt out-of-bounds negated New England’s outnumbering of Philadelphia’s hands team on that side of the field.

Having players on the field that are capable of making special teams a legitimate weapon is extremely valuable. When those players are also drilled to make the right play in the most high-pressure situations, it can make the difference in games like this. The Eagles special teams was both smart and dynamic against the Patriots. They delivered a spark when the team needed it most and made the right plays when it was expected of them to help seal a huge win.