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Patriots overcome slow start, ground Eagles

Nov 28, 2011 - 1:31 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Tom Brady threw for 361 yards and three scores as the New England Patriots overcame an early hole to rout the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-20.

Philadelphia got off to a flying start by taking a quick 10-0 advantage, but the Patriots outscored the Eagles 38-10 the rest of the way.

"Tom did a good job of really pressing the issue, we felt we had some matchups that we could take advantage of, that's what Tom does best," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said.

Wes Welker caught eight balls for 115 yards and two touchdowns, while Deion Branch added 125 yards receiving on six catches.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis added a pair of rushing scores for New England (8-3), which has outscored its opponents 109-39 during its three-game winning streak.

Vince Young got the start for the Eagles as Michael Vick missed his second consecutive game with a pair of broken ribs. Young completed 26-of-48 passes for 400 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

LeSean McCoy totaled 31 yards and a score on just 10 carries for the Eagles (4-7), who fell to 1-5 at Lincoln Financial Field this season.

"Anytime somebody comes in and kicks your tail at your own house it's not a good thing," Eagles center Jason Kelce said.

Young lofted a beautiful pass to Riley Cooper, who made a nice basket catch for a 58-yard gain down to the Patriots' four-yard line. McCoy plunged in from two yards out two plays later to cap off the five-play, 84-yard opening drive.

Following a Patriots punt, Alex Henery connected on a 43-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter. DeSean Jackson hauled in a 44-yard pass to highlight the possession.

The Patriots answered with a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive as Green-Ellis got in from four yards out to make it a 10-7 game late in the first quarter. New England converted four third downs on the march.

After an Eagles three-and-out, the Patriots went on a four-play, 61-yard touchdown drive capped off by Green-Ellis' one-yard TD run. Brady found Branch for a 63-yard catch-and-run down to the Eagles' one-yard line on 3rd- and-13 to set up the score.

Young attempted to go deep for Jackson down the left sideline on the first play of Philadelphia's ensuing possession, but the pass was underthrown and intercepted by Antwaun Molden. The turnover set up Stephen Gostowski for a 39-yard field-goal attempt, but his kick sailed wide right.

Brady found a wide open Welker for a 41-yard score to cap off a five-play, 76- yard drive to give the Patriots a 21-10 advantage midway through the second stanza.

McCoy broke off a 22-yard run, and Brent Celek came down with a 24-yard reception down to the Patriots' five-yard line. But Jackson dropped a pass in the end zone on 3rd-and-goal, and Henery connected from 22 yards out to make it a 21-13 game with just over two minutes to go in the half.

Brady led the Patriots down the field on an eight-play, 52-yard drive, and Gostowski nailed a 45-yard field goal to give New England a 24-13 lead at halftime.

The Patriots increased their lead to 31-13 when Welker hauled in a nine-yard score to cap off an eight-play, 69-yard march to open the third quarter.

The Eagles moved the ball 78 yards on their ensuing drive as Young found Jason Avant for a 22-yard completion and Clay Harbor came down with a 25-yard catch, but Young's pass for Celek on 4th-and-1 fell incomplete.

Brady found Rob Gronkowski over the middle for a 24-yard score to cap off a lengthy 14-play, 75-yard march which took 7:27 minutes off the clock as New England increased its lead to 38-13 with just under nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Young flipped a one-yard score to Avant with under a minute remaining to conclude the scoring.

Game Notes

Avant had eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown...The Eagles started off 0-for-6 on third down before finishing 4-for-13. New England on the other hand was 6-of-11 on third down...Gronkowski has 11 touchdown catches this season, which is two shy of the tight end touchdown record held by Vernon Davis and Antonio Gates...McCoy has 13 rushing touchdowns this season...Brady tied Johnny Unitas for sixth all-time on the NFL quarterback wins list with 119.