Sports

What You Need to Know About Tonight's Patriots Game Against the Eagles

Note: Information courtesy of The New England Patriots Media Relations Department


Tonight, the Patriots get a little closer to the start of the NFL season with their first preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. While the veterans will likely see limited playing time, the games do give younger players and other players on the bubble a chance to show why they deserve to make the 53-man roster.

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Here’s five things you need to know about tonight’s game.


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1. What Time is the Game?

The Patriots will play the Eagles tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia


2. Where to watch and listen to the game

WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub are places to go for coverage of tonight’s game. New Patriots play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis.

On TV, Dan Roche provides play-by-play and is joined by former Patriots tight end  Christian Fauria in the broadcast booth. Former Patriots linebacker Matt  Chatham will provide sideline analysis along with WBZ-TV’s Steve Burton. 

Patriots Football Weekly’s beatwriters Paul Perillo and Andy Hart will also provide insight and analysis. 


3. Series History

The Patriots and Eagles will meet for the 21st time in the  preseason and for the second  straight year. Last season, the  Patriots hosted Philadelphia in the second week of the preaseason on August 20, a 27-17 Eagles victory.  The Patriots and Eagles last  met in the regular season in  2011 when New England  overcame a 10-0 deficit for a  38-20 win at Lincoln Financial  Field on Nov. 27.  

While the teams have played just 11 times in the regular  season, they have played  20 times in the preseason  with each claiming 10 wins each. 

Philadelphia leads the  all-time regular-season  series with a 6-5 margin  but the Patriots have won three straight. New  England beat Philadelphia, 24-21, in Super Bowl  XXXIX following the 2004 season.

4. Most Frequent Preseason Opponents 

The Patriots and Eagles will meet for the 21st time in the preseason tonight. Only the Giants have more preseason games against the Patriots with 22.

5. Who Will Be at QB?

Going into tonight’s game, the Patriots have been mum on which quarterbacks will see playing time. Ryan Mallott figures to get plenty of time on the field according to the Boston Globe but how much time Tom Brady and Tim Tebow will receive is unknown.

As with most preseason openers, expect plenty of players to come in and out of the game to try to show why they deserve to make the 53-man roster for the regular season.


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