Patriots Edge Eagles 24-21 Behind Morton's Heroics and Emergency Punting
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots earned their first preseason win of the summer with a dramatic 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. The game was decided in the final minute when rookie quarterback Behren Morton connected with Nick DeGennaro for a 37-yard touchdown, capping a 73-yard drive with 3:39 remaining.
The win was not without concern. The game began with a scary moment when Eagles running back Ja'Quinden Jackson was injured on the opening kickoff after tackling New England's Lan Larison. Jackson was taken off the field in an ambulance, but the Eagles later announced that he had strength and movement in all extremities and was transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee said players were told Jackson was OK.
Both teams rested their projected starters after participating in two days of joint practices earlier in the week. This gave extended playing time to backups and roster hopefuls, and several took advantage of the opportunity.
Morton's Dual Role
Morton, a seventh-round draft pick out of Texas Tech, played the entire second half at quarterback in relief of Tommy DeVito. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 129 yards and the game-winning touchdown. But his most unexpected contribution came as an emergency punter.
After starting punter Bryce Baringer left the game because he wasn't feeling well, head coach Mike Vrabel turned to Morton, who had last punted in high school. Morton punted three times for 133 yards, averaging 44.3 yards per punt, with his first boot going 48 yards for a touchback.
"Coach came up to me and just said, 'If we've got to punt on this drive, you're going out there,'" Morton recounted. "I was pretty cold at the time, so I went under the net, hit a few balls. I asked Ash (long snapper Julian Ashby), 'How far do I need to stand back?' He told me 15 yards."
Morton acknowledged the speed of the NFL's punt rush was a shock. "In high school, they didn't rush that fast," he said. "So the first rush kind of threw me by surprise."
Vrabel explained his decision: "Well, I just assumed all the quarterbacks, they do their little punt thing and see how close they can get to the goal line, so I figured he could punt. Bryce wasn't feeling great after the first two punts, so I figured instead of risking anything there with Bryce or with Andy (Borregales), that Behren was able to get us out of there."
Morton's punting drew praise from teammates, including kicker Andy Borregales, who said, "He definitely exceeded our expectations." Long snapper Julian Ashby added, "He did awesome."
The dual performance was especially meaningful given Morton is no lock to make the 53-man roster. Showing he can contribute in multiple ways could bolster his chances.
DeVito's Strong Showing
Tommy DeVito started at quarterback and played the first half. He went 8 of 15 for 151 yards and threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kyle Williams late in the second quarter. DeVito also added 44 yards on the ground, including a 36-yard scramble.
Williams' touchdown was New England's most explosive play of the preseason. Williams finished with two catches for 74 yards and the score. DeVito praised Williams after the game: "Super twitchy. His release package off the line is second to none."
Other Key Performances
Several other players stood out in the win. Running back Lan Larison rushed for a 2-yard touchdown and finished with 29 yards on seven carries, adding three catches for 41 yards. Rookie wide receiver Nick DeGennaro caught four passes for 61 yards and the game-winning score. Efton Chism III caught four passes for 45 yards, including a 24-yard reception.
Kicker Andy Borregales made a 41-yard field goal and was perfect on extra points after struggling in the previous game. Borregales said he went "back to the basics" to correct his issues.
On defense, Kindle Vildor had a would-be interception negated by a roughing the passer penalty on Gabe Jacas, but he later recorded two pass breakups. Quintayvious Hutchins sealed the game with a strip-sack of Eagles quarterback Cole Payton in the final seconds, with the fumble recovered by Rogers.
Concerns and Injuries
The Patriots offense and defense showed signs of inconsistency, particularly with backup units on the field. Vrabel was openly critical of the defense after a first-quarter stretch, saying, "I saw dog [expletive] defense, and I wanted to talk to them." He called a timeout to address the issues.
Vrabel also expressed concern about team depth, noting, "I don't think we have a very deep team. So, you know, I think we have to make sure that we're preparing our football team, and that we're doing everything that we can to keep our best players available."
Injuries mounted for the Patriots. Offensive lineman Marcus Bryant left with an ankle injury on the game's fifth snap and did not return. Linebacker Khalil Jacobs went to the medical tent after a tackle but returned to the sideline. Linebacker Chad Muma limped off in the final minute. The team already entered the game without several players, including cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who is recovering from a minor injury amid ongoing contract negotiations. Wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins also were given the night off.
Offensive line depth remains a concern, with Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich already sidelined. The team signed 33-year-old Greg Van Roten this week, but he did not play against the Eagles.
Looking Ahead
The Patriots will close out the preseason Thursday night on the road against the Cleveland Browns. The Eagles will host the Cincinnati Bengals.
As for Morton, his performance Saturday may have earned him a longer look. "Tonight was fun," he said. "You've just got to make the most of your opportunity when it comes."