After losing their first game of the season before their bye week, the New England Patriots returned to the win column coming out of it: the team went on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles and was able to come away with a hard-fought 17-10 victory. With the win, the reigning world champions now improve to 9-1 on the season and also stay atop the AFC’s playoff picture after 11 weeks of regular season action.

With that being said, let’s recap the game.

Patriots (9-1) 17 : 10 Eagles (5-5)

First quarter

The Patriots started the game on defense and on their very first play from scrimmage saw Jason McCourty get flagged for defensive pass interference. The penalty set Philadelphia up at the New England 25-yard line, but the defense was able to hold its opponent to a field goal — with a Stephon Gilmore pass breakup on 3rd and 8 forcing the team to go for the kick. [Patriots 0 : 3 Eagles]

New England’s offense started well by gaining 12 yards on a screen pass to Sony Michel. However, the unit did not go much further than that and ultimately had to punt after a short run and two incomplete pass attempts from Tom Brady to Julian Edelman. The Patriots’ defense was able to get the football back to Brady and company quickly, though, and forced a three-and-out on the next series.

Once again, however, the unit failed to do much with the possession. While it did gain a first down on a pass to Edelman, the drive ultimately stalled a short time later and Jake Bailey had to come onto the field again for another punt. The kick, however, was very well executed and set Philadelphia up at its own 5-yard line. But despite starting deep in their own territory, the Eagles were able to move the football well and found themselves at the Patriots’ 19 by the end of the first period.

Second quarter

Philadelphia’s drive continued in the second quarter, and was capped by a touchdown: Carson Wentz hit tight end Dallas Goedert on a short slant. The play was originally ruled an interception by Jonathan Jones on the field, but was overturned for a touchdown — resulting in a score by the Eagles and the longest drive given up by the Patriots in eight years. [Patriots 0 : 10 Eagles]

New England’s offense replied with a solid drive of its own, even though it did not end with a touchdown. The team drove 59 yards in 13 plays — including two conversions on 3rd and 10 and rookie receiver N’Keal Harry’s first career reception — before having to settle for a 35-yard field goal. Nick Folk’s kick was good, and the Patriots were within one score again. [Patriots 3 : 10 Eagles]

Momentum continued to shift the visitors’ way after the field goal. First, the defense forced a three-and-out with an 11-yard sack by Elandon Roberts as a crucial play. Then, Mohamed Sanu had a 14-yard punt return to set New England’s offense up on the Eagles’ side of the field. The offense then drove 44 yards in 11 plays, but ultimately had to send Folk onto the field again to attempt a 22-yard field goal. [Patriots 6 : 10 Eagles]

The ensuing Philadelphia possession lasted all but two plays: after a short run, Danny Shelton sacked Carson Wentz and forced a fumble in the process that was recovered by fellow defensive lineman Lawrence Guy.

Due to the takeaway, New England’s offense was able to set up shop at the Eagles’ 32-yard line right outside the two-minute warning. However, the unit did not gain much ground and again had to take a field goal after just three offensive plays. Nick Folk was on spot again and drilled the 39-yard attempt to put his team within one point. [Patriots 9 : 10 Eagles]

Third quarter

Coming out of the locker room at the half, the Patriots offense increased the tempo and looked good doing so. The unit marched down the field in a hurry, with a 30-yard screen pass to Rex Burkhead as the biggest play of the series in terms of yardage gained. The biggest play, however, was undoubtably the 15-yard touchdown pass that Julian Edelman threw to Phillip Dorsett II on 3rd and 12:

The touchdown pass, Edelman’s first of the regular season, was followed up by a two-point conversion attempt that was also successful: James White crossed the plane from two yards out to give the Patriots a seven-point lead after they had trailed for most of the first half of the game. [Patriots 17 : 10 Eagles]

New England’s defense, meanwhile, forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession. The team’s offense did the same one series later, however, giving the home team the football back. Philadelphia did not fare much better on its next series and after an 11-yard sack by Dont’a Hightower had to punt again to give the Patriots the football in good field position — but they went only seven yards before punting the football back again.

Despite again starting the next possession again with the football close to midfield, New England had to settle for another punt.

Fourth quarter

New England’s defense started the second half well, however, and after surrendering only one first down had to force the Eagles to kick the football away once more. The Patriots again failed to capitalize despite some decent plays — a 3rd and 6 conversion on a pass from Brady to Jakobi Meyers, a 10-yard run by James White — and had to kick back to the home team to end the series after seven plays.

Philadelphia had its longest play of the day to start the next series — a 25-yard pass from Carson Wentz to Zach Ertz — but again couldn’t string enough plays together against the Patriots’ defense; the Eagles again had to punt. Following a long bouncing kick, New England’s next series started at the team’s own 2-yard line. While they ultimately had to punt again, the Patriots did get some breathing room and flipped the field position.

Even though the Eagles started their next drive at their own 6-yard line, they were able to move the football well and reach the New England side of the field just before the two-minute warning. Philadelphia moved up to the 26-yard line but ultimately had to turn the football over on downs after four incomplete passes in a row. The game was not over, though, as the Patriots failed to get a first down on their next possession to ice the game.

Jake Bailey was able to pin the Eagles deep again with his eighth and final punt, and the team failed to get into the end zone again — seeing a Hail Mary attempt fall incomplete as time ran out.