This isn’t Bill Belichick’s first rodeo. In fact, including his time spent as an assistant coach and coordinator with the Colts, Lions, Broncos, Giants and Jets, it’s his 47th. As alluded to in this remarkable graphic screenshotted by Field Yates of ESPN, Belichick has worked on NFL sidelines longer than his Eagles counterpart, first-year coach Nick Sirianni, has been alive.
That’s a pretty overwhelming experience gap to overcome and that disparity was certainly felt in the first half of Thursday’s preseason “dress rehearsal” in Philadelphia with Belichick’s Patriots taking a commanding 19-0 lead into the break. In fairness, the Eagles were playing without their starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was held out with an illness. Hurts reportedly dominated the Patriots in joint practices earlier this week, but was feeling under the weather Thursday, prompting a change of plans. Former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco started in Hurts’ absence, completing 10-of-17 passes for 83 scoreless yards while committing two first-half turnovers (one interception, one lost fumble).
On a more encouraging note, Eagles fans finally got their first glimpse of rookie DeVonta Smith, who corralled two of four targets for 19 yards in the first half. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner had spent the previous week as a spectator, sitting out the Eagles’ preseason opener against Pittsburgh with a minor knee injury.
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