PHILADELPHIA — Early in the second quarter, the Patriots trailed the Eagles 10-0 and just allowed a 16-play, 95-yard drive that took up over nine minutes and ended with a touchdown.
It was reminiscent of the long Ravens drives in the second half of their last game, but the Patriots didn’t let it continue.
Following that long touchdown drive, the Ravens went: punt, fumble, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, turnover on downs, end of game on their final 10 possessions. In fact, on their eight possessions after the touchdown, they totaled just 67 yards on 30 plays (2.23 yards per play).
So, what was the difference?
“There was no change,” safety Duron Harmon said. “It was just we were better on first and second down. When you look at the first two series, the first one we were good, they just had a pass interference call that put them in the red area. Other than that we were fine. Then you look at the second series, they were on the 5-yard line and just did a good job getting ahead on first down, making it second-and-4, second-and-4, third-and-2. It is a lot easier to pick those up.
“Obviously, we went back to the sideline and Coach Belichick was just like, ‘We have to be better on first and second down. Be better on first and second down and we’ll get them where we want to.’”
Harmon was right. On the 95-yard drive the Eagles only faced one third down and that was when they scored on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line. After that, the Patriots were able to pick up some momentum led by their run defense. The Eagles finished the game just 3-for-13 on third down.
“Without a doubt, (the stops) build together,” Harmon said. “The defensive line and the linebackers did a great job just controlling the run. When we’re able to control the run, we have a really good secondary. A lot of guys that can play good man-to-man coverage, play zone. We can do a little bit of everything. When we’re able to stop that run and turn teams one-dimensional, it puts us in a good spot.”
Overall, it was a solid win against a playoff-caliber team and much-needed following the loss to Baltimore the last time the team was on the field.
“It is great because this was a tough win,” Harmon said. “Coming into this hostile environment, big time game, we were able to get a win at a much-needed time.”
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