New England @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2018 ) Philadelphia 20, New England 37

It's not too often that the New England Patriots fail to come out on top in a high-profile match, but one of the most noteworthy examples in recent memory came in a loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl LII in February 2018. The Patriots will get a chance to avenge that defeat and bounce back from their first loss of the season when they visit the Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

New England quarterback Tom Brady has six Super Bowl rings but acknowledged there was a lot of "mental scar tissue" from the 41-33 loss to Philadephia. "They deserved it that year and now a couple years later we get a chance to play the organization again," Brady said. "We’ve had a lot changes. They’ve had a lot of changes. It’s totally different circumstances. Huge game for us. Big game for them. The better team is going to win." While the Patriots' aura of defensive invincibility was punctured in a 37-20 loss at Baltimore prior to last week's bye, the Eagles have moved back into a tie for first place in the NFC East courtesy of back-to-back wins at Buffalo and against Chicago prior to their week off. “I think the biggest thing that jumps out to you right now, the glaring thing, is the turnover ratio," Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson said of the Patriots. "I mean, the fact that they’ve got six defensive scores this season ... it’s a brand of defense where they just smother you."

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Patriots -3.5. O/U: 44.5

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (8-1): New England entered its Week 9 matchup leading the league in points allowed (7.6), interceptions (19) and sacks (31), but it could not solve Baltimore's Lamar Jackson, who threw for one touchdown and ran for two more. Brady was held to one touchdown or less for the fourth time in six games, but he established a rapport with recent acquisition Mohamed Sanu, who hauled in 10 receptions for 81 yards and a score in his second game with the club. Running back Sony Michel had a season-low four carries versus the Ravens and has yet to gain 100 yards after reaching that mark six times during his rookie campaign. New England's defense is allowing 99.1 yards per game on the ground.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (5-4): Philadelphia had absorbed lopsided road losses at Minnesota and Dallas before rebounding with an impressive 31-13 victory in Buffalo and a 22-14 win over Chicago. Carson Wentz, who missed the Super Bowl victory over New England due to a knee injury, has 11 touchdowns versus two interceptions over his last seven games but could be dealing with a patchwork wide receiver corps. Alshon Jeffery (ankle) did not practice for a second straight game and DeSean Jackson was placed on injured reserve, so the Eagles may lean on the running back tandem of Jordan Howard (525 yards, 6 TDs rushing) and rookie Miles Sanders. Philadelphia ranks eighth defensively overall and fourth versus the run (87.3 yards).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wentz has thrown a TD pass in 12 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the NFL.

2. Brady tossed three scoring passes and set a Super Bowl record with 505 yards passing in the loss to the Eagles.

3. Eagles TE Zach Ertz has four TDs in his last five home games and one in each of the past two versus the Patriots.

PREDICTION: Patriots 23, Eagles 20