The New England Patriots enter Week 11 tied for the best record in the NFL but have to face off against a desperate Philadelphia Eagles squad. Despite their 5-4 record, one could easily make the case that the Eagles boast one of the most talented rosters in the league. The Patriots haven’t beaten the Eagles since they took down the “Dream Team” back in 2011, so New England definitely has something to prove here. Let’s take a look at some Patriots bold predictions heading into their Week 11 matchup and Super Bowl LII rematch.
New England Patriots vs Philadelphia Eagles Bold Predictions
N’Keal Harry Scores Two Touchdowns
The New England Patriots offense as a whole just hasn’t looked right for the majority of the year. Tom Brady isn’t playing the best football of his career, but he’s still a top-10 quarterback. The Patriots can still move the ball up and down the field with ease, but they’ve struggled to convert when in the red zone. According to Team Rankings, the Patriots are scoring on just 50% of their red zone drives, tied for 21st in the league. This obviously isn’t good and is highly uncharacteristic for the Patriots.
Fortunately, N’Keal Harry should make his debut in Week 11 and his presence should improve the red zone offense. New England’s first-round pick might not be the best at gaining separation, but he excels at outmuscling defenders at the point of attack and hauling in contested catches. Listed at 6’-4” and 225 pounds, Harry has the ideal build for this skill to translate from college to the pros. Expecting Harry to immediately come in and serve as one of the top options in the passing attack is probably asking too much. However, Harry could be the fix this red zone offense needs. Look for Brady to look his way when the offense makes it into the red zone.
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Julian Edelman Exceeds 150 Receiving Yards
The biggest mismatch in this game is Julian Edelman against the Philadelphia Eagles secondary. Throughout the season, the Eagles corners simply haven’t shown an ability to cover even average wide receivers, and Edelman should have a field day against this secondary. The reigning Super Bowl MVP is quietly having a fantastic season and is on pace for career-highs in receptions (112), yards (1,179), and touchdowns (7). He’s eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice so far, but he should have the best game of the season in what should be a relatively high-scoring game.
Patriots Win on Last-Second Carson Wentz Fumble
Carson Wentz is one of the better young quarterbacks in the league, and he should be able to move the ball with some success against New England’s elite defense. New England’s offense should have no trouble moving the ball against the Eagles, so this could easily turn into a shootout. It’s not hard to imagine a world where the Patriots take a 38-33 lead with just over two minutes to go. Wentz, who has played a fantastic game up to this point, has one last shot to drive down the field and score a game-winning touchdown.
Instead, John Simon brings pressure up the middle and forces a fumble on second and 2. Danny Shelton lands on the ball, and the Patriots convert the turnover into a field goal to essentially seal the game. Wentz and company get one last chance to tie the game, but the comeback ultimately comes up short. The people of Massachusetts proceed to build a statue of Brady in downtown Boston while Wentz has to deal with months of questions about rumored tensions between him and head coach Doug Pederson, who reportedly wanted to keep Nick Foles as the team’s starting quarterback.
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