PATRIOTS HOST FIRST SATURDAY PRESEASON GAME SINCE 2006
The Patriots and Eagles met in a preseason game on Saturday. It was the Patriots first home Saturday preseason game since hosting the Arizona Cardinals on August 19, 2006. It is the second year in a row the Patriots played in Week 2 of the preseason on Saturday after traveling to play at Minnesota on Saturday Aug, 16, 20025.
GAME CAPTAINS
LB K.J. Britt, T Marcus Bryant, WR Efton Chism III, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and TE Jack Westover served as game captains.
FREQUENT PRESEASON OPPONENT
The Patriots and Eagles met in the preseason for the 26th time, second only to the 32 preseason meetings between the Patriots and the Giants. 14-11 record heading into this game
TOMMY DEVITO STARTED FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT PRESEASON GAME
QB Tommy DeVito started the game for the second straight week and finished 8-of-15 for 151 yards and one touchdown in first half action. DeVito connected with WR Kyle Williams on a 69-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. His longest touchdown pass in the regular season was a 40-yard touchdown pass to WR Darius Slayton at Washington on Nov. 19, 2023. His longest pass completion is a 41-yard pass to WR Jalin Hyatt against the Patriots on Nov. 26, 2023.
DEVITO HAD A 36-YARD RUN IN THE SECOND QUARTER
DeVito had a 36-yard run in the second quarter. His longest run in the regular season was a 26-yard run vs. Green Bay on Dec. 11, 2023, when he played for the New York Giants. DeVito finished with 44 yards rushing on three attempts against Philadelphia. He had a career-best 77 yards in that game against Green Bay.
ROOKIE WR NICK DEGENNARO HAULS IN GAME-WINNING TOUCHDOWN
Rookie WR Nick DeGennaro caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from QB Behren Morton with 57 seconds to play in the game to give New England a 24-21 lead. DeGennaro was signed by New England as a rookie free agent out of James Madison. DeGennaro led the team with 61 yards receiving on 4 receptions.
WILLIAMS ON THE RECEIVING END OF A 69-YARD TD
WR Kyle Williams was on the receiving end of a 69-yard touchdown pass from QB Tommy DeVito in the second quarter. As a rookie in 2026, Williams had three touchdown passes of at least 30 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown pass from QB Drake Maye at Tampa Bay on Nov. 9.
HUTCHINS SEALS THE WIN WITH A FORCED FUMBLE ON A SACK
2026 seventh-round draft pick LB Quintayvious Hutchins sealed the 24-21 win when he forced a fumble on a 9-yard sack of Philadelphia QB Cole Payton that was recovered by DT Casey Rogers with 36 seconds left to play.
TWO ROOKIE FREE AGENTS STARTED ON OFFENSE
TE Tanner Arkin and OL Jacob Rizy were in the starting lineup. Arkin started at fullback. He also started in the preseason-opener against Indianapolis. Rizy started at center against Philadelphia after seeing action at center against the Colts when Ben Brown left that game with an injury.
LOMU STARTS AT LEFT TACKLE
2026 first-round draft pick T Caleb Lomu started at left tackle against the Eagles. He started at right tackle in the preseason opener against Indianapolis.
TWO 2026 DRAFT PICKS STARTED ON DEFENSE
Two 2026 draft selections started on defense with second-round pick LB Gabe Jacas and fifth-round pick CB Karon Prunty. Both started in the preseason opener against Indianapolis.
BRYANT STARTED AT RIGHT TACKLE
T Marcus Bryant started at right tackle against Philadelphia after starting at left tackle in the preseason-opener against Indianapolis.
ROOKIE FREE AGENT LB KHALIL JACOBS STARTS ON DEFENSE
Rookie free agent LB Khalil Jacobs was in the starting lineup at linebacker.
QB BEHREN MORTON UTILIZED AS A PUNTER
QB Behren Morton was utilized as a punter. His first punt was in the second quarter and went for 48 yards. He finished with three punts for 133 yards. Morton punted in high school on a team that consisted of 25 players.
MORTON ENTERED THE GAME IN THE THIRD QUARTER
Morton entered the game in the second half and finished 13-of-17 for 129 yards, including a game-winning 37-yard touchdown pass to rookie WR Nick DeGennaro with 57 seconds left to play to give New England a 24-21 win.
OBIAZOR BREAKS UP A FOURTH-DOWN PLAY
2026 sixth-round draft pick LB Namdi Obiazor broke up a fourth-down pass to TE E.J. Jenkins in the end zone to end a drive in the third quarter.
