Philadelphia Eagles: 3 Things to watch for in Preseason Week 2

1. Revenge for the Patriots

You are right to think that it sounds silly that a team would be looking for revenge in a preseason game. But this is the Patriots were talking about here, a franchise that is known for its success as much as it’s controversies. If you think that the 41-33 loss in the Super Bowl to the Eagles isn’t on their mind, you don’t know Bill Belichick well enough.

The Eagles don’t play the Patriots in the regular season, so this could be the Patriots only chance for revenge this season unless both teams meet again in the Super Bowl. With the game taking place in New England, you can expect a hostile environment — at least for a preseason game, that is.

The Patriots aren’t just looking to comeback from a Super Bowl loss, but they also want to exact vengeance on Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson. Johnson decided to add insult to injury when he took some shots at the Patriots organization after the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

Even though the Patriots won’t admit to it, they probably have had this game marked on their calendar. They will want to put on a show in front of their home fans and try to get some sort of retaliation on the team that ended their championship hopes last season. The Eagles are going to have to bring their best effort Thursday night.

Don’t expect to see Tom Brady playing in the fourth quarter, but also don’t be surprised if the Patriots play a little harder and edgier than most teams would in their second preseason game. If this game does in fact have a ruthless atmosphere, it will be good for the Eagles since it will give them an idea as to how things will be this season with every team trying to dethrone the reigning champions!