The NFL season is a war of attrition, but the New England Patriots are in danger of running out of soldiers. The Pats made two big additions to their sizable injury list this week, as Rob Gronkowski and Dont'a Hightower are both unlikely to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. They'd join Julian Edelman, Dion Lewis and left tackle Nate Solder on the inactive list.
Eagles vs. Patriots 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Even though the Patriots are decimated by injuries, this could be a lopsided affair.
Gronkowski left last week's contest against the Denver Broncos late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury after safety Darian Stewart hit him low. Early reports indicated the injury isn't as severe as it appeared, though Gronkowski may still have to miss a couple of weeks. In a surprising move, the Patriots released a joint statement with Gronkowski's family about the tight end's status, saying he was diagnosed with a bone bruise/sprain on his right knee and would be evaluated on a weekly basis.
The truth is, the Patriots would probably be wise to treat Gronkowski with caution going forward. As they learned from 2012-14, when they played in the postseason without Gronkowski or with a hobbled version of him, a healthy Gronk is vital to their Super Bowl chances. They need him in January, not for the rest of the regular season.
Though Hightower’s knee injury hasn’t generated as many headlines, his loss is almost as impactful for the Pats. When he was in the game Sunday, the Broncos only mustered 46 rushing yards on 16 carries. After he left, they gained 133 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns. He needs to be in there if the Patriots are going to stop the run down the stretch.
But even with a decimated roster and issues with the officiating, the Patriots still took the Broncos to overtime on the road last week. That’s not a good sign for the struggling Eagles, who have surrendered 90 points over the last two weeks and lost three straight games.
It's been a season of turmoil for the 4-7 Eagles and rumors about Chip Kelly's job status are beginning to swirl. This week, Eagles cornerback Malcolm Jenkins criticized Kelly's tactics for reviewing film, saying the practice of watching game tape with positional groups rather than the entire team doesn't breed accountability.
Regardless of how the Eagles view game film, there is still uncertainty at quarterback. Mark Sanchez started the past two games for the injured Sam Bradford and the offense scored just 31 total points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions. Sanchez threw four touchdowns, three interceptions and lost a fumble in the two losses. Bradford has struggled this year, but he's expected to start again when he's healthy.
Though Tom Brady receives most of the accolades for the Patriots' success, New England's defense has been the surprising story of the season. Even after losing all three starting cornerbacks from last season, the Patriots are currently fifth in the league in scoring defense. The defense is likely going to get a big piece back this week, too -- linebacker Jamie Collins is expected to return from an illness that kept him out of action for four weeks.
Even with all of the injuries the Patriots are dealing with, this game promises to be a real challenge for the Eagles. Given how well Bill Belichick-coached teams typically respond after a loss, it may not be pretty.
How to Watch
When: 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
TV: Fox
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Tony Siragusa
Online: NFL Game Pass
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