Patriots turn tables on Eagles in rematch of Super Bowl LII

PHILADELPHIA – Julian Edelman's touchdown toss had Bill Belichick flashing a slight smile and cracking some jokes.

Edelman threw a go-ahead 15-yard TD pass to Phillip Dorsett and the New England Patriots rallied for a 17-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Tom Brady threw for 216 yards, leading New England (9-1) back from a 10-0 deficit, but it was Edelman, the gritty wide receiver, who found a target in the end zone. It was the first time in Brady's career that another player on his team had more TD passes when he played the entire game.

"Good read on the play," Belichick said after the Patriots clinched a winning season for the 19th year in a row. "Keeps his quarterback rating up there pretty high. I'm sure he'll ice his shoulder this week, massage it. Great play by Julian."

This was nothing like the thrilling February 2018 matchup between the two teams in Super Bowl LII, when Nick Foles led the Eagles to a 41-33 victory over the Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium to capture the franchise's first NFL title since 1960. The teams set or tied 29 Super Bowl records, including most yards in any game (1,151) in league history.

Neither team could get in sync on offense in the rematch.

"We could do everything better," Brady said.

"I felt like we gave up three points," Belichick said. "We got an interception. They overturned it."

After settling for three field goals in the first half, the Patriots turned to the trick play on third-and-11. Brady tossed a backward pass to Edelman. The former Kent State quarterback fired a perfect pass to Dorsett, who was alone in the end zone for Edelman's second career TD pass.

"It's fun to throw the pill sometimes," Edelman said.

Wentz couldn't get much going without his two best receivers and top running back sidelined by injuries. Nelson Agholor couldn't make a twisting catch on Wentz's fourth-down heave into the end zone from the Patriots 26 with just under a minute left.

The Eagles (5-5) got the ball back and advanced to their 42, but Wentz's final desperation pass fell incomplete.