One of the lingering disappointments for the Patriots in Super Bowl LII was the failure to generate a consistent pass rush on Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. While it was only preseason, Thursday night’s rematch offered a new narrative.
The Patriots pressured Foles (as well as backups Nate Sudfeld and Joe Callahan) for much of the game, leading to a 37-20 win. Without the intricacies of a regular season game plan (for either team), the preseason clash was a simpler contest.
It was one-on-one competition. In that regard, the Patriots defensive line won.
Consistency
On the Eagles’ opening drive, Foles was sacked on third down by a blitzing Patrick Chung.