FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Michael Vick keeps taking his lumps. His Philadelphia Eagles keep winning.

The star quarterback was leveled after throwing a long pass in the first quarter and underwent X-rays for the second straight game — negative again. Then backup Nick Foles led the Eagles to a 27-17 preseason victory over the New England Patriots on Monday night.

Vick had X-rays on his ribs after being knocked down by linebacker Jermaine Cunningham. Eleven days earlier, in a 24-23 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had X-rays on his left thumb after hitting it on the helmet of center Jason Kelce. Vick took part in only six plays in each game.

Foles threw two touchdown passes for the second straight game for the Eagles.

Tom Brady sat out the game for the Patriots.

The New England quarterback figures to play Friday night in the team’s third preseason game, at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The Eagles (2-0) also have just three days between games. Vick had been expected to play at least a half on Monday night and probably rest on Friday when Philadelphia faces the Cleveland Browns, the Eagles’ opponent in the season opener.

But his night was cut short and he left after going 1 for 3 for 5 yards with one run for another 5 yards.

After Cunningham drove his helmet into Vick’s left side, the quarterback went down, got up slowly then knelt on one knee. He was checked by medical personnel before going to the sideline under his own power.

Foles, a rookie third-round draft pick from Arizona, came in and finished 18 for 28 for 217 yards and touchdown passes to Clay Harbor of 1 and 3 yards. LeSean McCoy scored on a 1-yard run and Alex Henery kicked a 42-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 24-17 lead with 33 seconds left in the third quarter and a 21-yarder that capped the scoring with 2:00 remaining.

For the Patriots (1-1), third-stringer Ryan Mallett threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Alex Silvestro, and Stephen Gostkowski kicked field goals of 51, 35 and 55 yards.

Vick wasn’t the only first-stringer knocked out of the game. Philadelphia cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and New England safety Patrick Chung went out in the first half with shoulder injuries. Mike Kafka, Vick’s backup last year, missed the game with a hand injury.

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The Patriots led 11-0 after Silvestro’s touchdown 1:16 into the second quarter and a 2-point conversion run by Shane Vereen. Then two lost fumbles within a span of just six plays led to two Eagles touchdowns.

Rookie Brandon Bolden muffed a punt, and McCoy scored three plays later. On the Patriots’ second play after that, Brian Hoyer fumbled when he was sacked by Phillip Hunt and Darryl Tapp recovered at the New England 12. Foles hit Jackson for an 11-yard completion on the next play before connecting with Harbor.

The Eagles took the lead for good, 21-14, with 3:58 gone in the third quarter on Harbor’s second touchdown.

 

NOTES: A moment of silence was held before the game for Garrett Reid, the son of Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid who was found dead Aug. 5 in his dorm room at Lehigh University where he was helping the team’s strength and conditioning coach during training camp. … Four Olympic medalists with New England connections were introduced before the game.

 


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