Eagles vs. Patriots 2015 final score: Philadelphia shocks New England on the road

The Eagles had given up 90 points over their last two games combined. The Patriots owned the second best record in the NFL at 10-1. We all spent the week wondering what the hell the Eagles should do with Chip Kelly.

So of course the Eagles beat the Patriots, 35-28, at Gillette Stadium, lest you forget that this NFL season is committed to taking a flamethrower to your expectations.

The Eagles defense went up against an MVP favorite quarterback, after getting torched by Jameis Winston and Matthew Stafford back-to-back, and forced him into one of his worst outings of the season. Tom Brady had thrown just four interceptions on the season entering Sunday, and no more than one in any game. The Eagles picked him off twice, including a 100-yard pick-six by Malcolm Jenkins on which Brady showed, once again, that tackling isn’t his strong suit.

Just how backwards did Sunday’s game feel? Brady was a better receiver than quarterback on the day, catching a pass on a trick play and scampering 36 yards. On the next play, he threw a bad interception deep into the end zone, his second pick of the day.

Some things were as they should be. Three of the Eagles’ touchdowns were comprised of blocked punt returned for a touchdown, Jenkins’ pick-six and an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by Darren Sproles. The other two were 59- and 80-yard touchdown drives, granted, but the Eagles’ offense never really shifted out of neutral, gaining 248 yards at 4.3 yards per play.

But the play of the Eagles’ secondary was a minor miracle. Entering Sunday, the Eagles’ defense had given up the 13th-highest passer rating to opposing quarterbacks in the NFL, and was trending downwards. It had allowed 25 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. They gave Brady little room to work, however, until late when the Patriots, inevitably, woke up.

Scott Chandler, playing in place of injured tight end Rob Gronkowski, caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brady to pull the Patriots within 14 points, 35-21, then the Patriots recovered an onside kick that was muffed by the Eagles’ hands team. Nine plays later, Brady got into the end zone on a 1-yard plunge to pull within one score with three minutes to play.

This time, even the Pats couldn’t come back, nor could the Eagles blow it.

But oh, did they try.

The Eagles foiled the Pats’ next onside kick attempt, then Sam Bradford came up in the clutch, particularly on a third-and-11 conversion after the Patriots had burned their timeouts, to finish a yeoman’s day behind center. They had practically sealed the game the game ... then Kenjon Barner fumbled on a 3-yard run, giving Brady and the Patriots another chance to tie or win the game with a minute to play.

The Eagles defense held, however, however improbable it seemed heading into the game. Make what you will of this game, if you can make anything of it at all.