Patriots rally to hold off Eagles, remain unbeaten

BOSTON: The unbeaten New England Patriots rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 31-28 and celebrate wrapping up their divisional title on Sunday.

Laurence Maroney scored on a four-yard run to put the Patriots (11-0) in the lead with 7:20 to play, and Asante Samuel made his second interception of the game minutes later as New England continued its bid to become the first NFL team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go undefeated in a regular season.

The Patriots, who had already clinched the AFC East title when the Buffalo Bills were beaten 36-14 by Jacksonville, were almost upset when the Eagles, sparked by quarterback A.J. Feeley and an aggressive defense, led 28-24 before Maroney scored.

The Eagles made one more bid, driving to the New England 29 and to within range of a tying field goal, but Samuel sealed the win with his interception of Feeley's pass in the end zone.

"It was not surprising," Samuel told reporters when asked about the Eagles, who were without injured starting quarterback Donovan McNabb. "They have a great, West Coast offense and we played terrible."

Samuel gave the Patriots a 7-0 early lead with a 40-yard return of an intercepted Feeley pass.

But Feeley rebounded to lead the Eagles to a quick reply on a one-yard run by Brian Westbrook to show the visiting side was not prepared to lie down.

With Feeley twice throwing to Greg Lewis for touchdowns, the Eagles took the lead at 21-17 in the second quarter.

After Tom Brady's only touchdown pass, a 19-yard throw to Jabar Gaffney, gave New England the lead back at 24-21, Feeley struck for a third time with an eight-yard pass to Reggie Brown for a 28-24 third-quarter Philadelphia lead.

But Brady, who went 34 of 54 for 380 yards, directed a fourth-quarter 10-play, 69-yard drive for Maroney to score and regain the lead for the Patriots.

The Patriots' quarterback, whose favorite receiver Randy Moss was shut down with just five catches and 43 yards, instead connected with Wes Welker for 13 passes and 149 yards.

Feeley finished 27 of 42 for 345 yards with three interceptions to go with his three touchdown passes.

AFP

(China Daily 11/27/2007 page23)