There was a detectable bounce in the step of New Englanders today. The reason? The Return of TB.
Tom Brady, making his first game appearance since the first quarter of the 2008 season opener, lit it up pretty good in the Patriots first two drives against the Eagles.
On New England’s first possession, he winged a bubble screen out to rookie Julian Edelman that went for 6 yards on second down then had his second throw intended for Joey Galloway fall incomplete.
After an Eagles three-and-out, Brady began New England’s second drive with a skinny post throw to Randy Moss that went for 14 yards.
He followed that up on second down with a bomb to Moss down the right sideline. It dropped in perfectly, necessitating a grab at Moss’ arm by Asante Samuel. The pass interference went for 46 yards.
Brady capped the drive with a play-action dart to tight end Chris Baker for a 4-yard score. After two drives, Brady had gone 4 for 5 for 28 yards and the touchdown.
Coming out for a third drive with the score 7-3, Brady made his first bad throw of the night - a moonball down the left sideline intended for Moss that was well short and picked off by Sheldon Brown at the Eagles 12.
Through the first quarter, Brady went 5 of 7 for 37 yards with a touchdown, a pick and the 46-yard PI drawn. Donovan McNabb, meanwhile, is playing into the second quarter and has gone 7 for 13 for 60 yards.