Geoff JohnsonEagles and Patriots will square in a really interesting Monday night preseason matchup at Gillette Stadium at 8 PM ET. The oddsmakers have New England as a -1.5 favorite over Philadelphia; the game total is set at 41.
The Pats didn’t look comfortable on offense against the Saints in week one; not their first team and neither their second or third. Tom Brady seems to be having a bad time with the retirement of Matt Light as his replacement, Nate Soldier, looked too stiff against the New Orleans pass rush.
“I’m just getting more comfortable there,” said Solder, a first-round draft pick last year. “A lot of us (on the offensive line) are still young. It takes time to get the timing down.”
The Patriots defense, on the other hand, seemed a more than please with the 7-6 victory, even if there is just a preseason game. “We held them to six points, so that’s always good,” said safety Patrick Chung, who had one of the Patriots’ two interceptions. “It’s always feels good to get an interception. It’s just preseason, but you’ve still got to make plays.”
The Eagles are expecting to have their starters playing at least until late in the third quarter that’s what coach Andy Reid is looking for. Reid also understands the Patriots’ tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will test the Eagles’ linebackers and safeties.
“Your safeties and your linebackers, that’s a big challenge. That’s the primary part of their offense … you’ve gotta be disciplined, it’ll be great for [strongside rookie Mychal] Kendricks, he’s a young guy, it’ll be a great experience for him,” Reid said.
