PHILADELPHIA — It was a blowout Thursday night, as the Patriots beat the Eagles 35-0 in their second preseason affair. Nick Mullens and Joe Flacco had no answer for New England’s pass rush.

Offense:

Starting their first drive in great field position after a fumble, and Damien Harris carried it into the end zone for an early five-yard touchdown.

On their second drive, Cam Newton found Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers twice, but James White dropped a contested pass on third down. Quinn Norton missed a 36-yard field goal to keep it 7-0.

After another stop by New England’s defense, the running game took New England down field before Newton found Meyers again on another crossing route, for a 28-yard passing touchdown. However, Nordin missed another one, this one being the extra point.

Mac Jones found himself in some trouble in his first drive, backed up deep in their own territory while it being third-and-13. But Jones found N’Keal Harry for a first down, before Sony Michel gave the Pats another first down with some shake-and-bake. The running game led New England downfield, before Rhamondre Stevenson pounded it into the end zone to cap off a 17-play, 91-yard drive. The Pats failed to convert on the two-point conversion, as Jones tried to find Devin Asiasi but dropped a contested pass.

After an interception, with roughly 30 seconds to go in the second quarter, Jones threw a deep ball to Harry, who came up short. He hit the ground hard, and lied on the ground for a minute or two before getting up and walking over to the tent slowly.

The half ended after the Patriots punted, as New England would start the second half with the ball. Jones found Kristian Wilkerson for six yards and Gunner Olszewski for 17, but it was running back J.J. Taylor who led the team downfield with both receptions and carries. He pounded it into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, but Nordin missed yet another extra point, which kept the score at 25-0 halfway through the third quarter.

Jones found Isaiah Zuber and Olszewski in his next drive, while Stevenson was a force in the ground game. Stevenson carried it into the end zone for another one-yard touchdown, and Nordin was able to make the extra point which made it 32-0.

Brian Hoyer took over, but it was Taylor again that tortured the Eagles defense. Hoyer did find Wilkerson several times, but it was the running game again that put them in position for a field goal, that Nordin was able to make.

Stevenson fumbled however on the next drive, something that will likely plague his playing time in the near future.

STATS:

• QB Cam Newton: 8-9, 103 YDS
• QB Mac Jones: 13-19, 103 YDS
• QB Brian Hoyer: 2-3, 30 YDS

• RB J.J. Taylor: 12 CAR, 92 YDS; 3 REC, 18 YDS
• RB Rhamondre Stevenson: 15 CAR, 66 YDS, 1 FMBL; 1 REC, 18 YDS
• RB Sony Michel: 7 CAR, 34 YDS; 4 REC, 37 YDS
• RB Damien Harris: 6 CAR, 14 YDS
• RB James White: 2 REC, 13 YDS

• WR Gunner Olszewski: 4 REC, 57 YDS
• WR Jakobi Meyers: 3 REC, 56 YDS
• WR Kristian Wilkerson: 3 REC, 36 YDS
• WR Kendrick Bourne: 1 REC, 23 YDS
• WR N’Keal Harry: 1 REC, 19 YDS

Defense:

Matt Judon continued his great preseason, as on the first drive he tackled Joe Flacco, forcing a fumble, and former Eagle Jalen Mills picked it up.

They were able to stop Philadelphia on third-and-1 during the second drive. A common mishap of the 2020 Patriots — an inconsistent defensive line.

Joejuan Williams, on fourth-and-3, made a crucial deflection on a fade route in the end zone.

Late in the first half with under 40 seconds left, Justin Bethel deflected a pass on fourth down, and it was intercepted by Harvey Langi.

Late in the fourth, Adrian Colbert intercepted a pass on another tipped pass.

Notes/Observations:

– Chase Winovich got penalized for roughing the passer, but was able to get a pair of sacks

– Cassh Maluia recorded a sack, and made a couple of key tackles

– Joejuan Williams is gearing up for a breakout year

– Rhamondre Stevenson will most definitely see a plague in playing time after his fumble

– Patriots had to use offensive tackle Justin Herron at tight end for a series of plays, because the tight end room now has just Devin Asiasi, a candidate to be cut, after injuries from Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, and Matt LaCosse, as well as the releasing of Troy Fumagalli

(Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)