Patriots coach Bill Belichick gave his team rare in-season praise following Sunday afternoon's win over the Eagles in Philadelphia. "I know we demand a lot and this isn't an easy place to play, and I'm not an easy guy to play for, but they have tried to respond," Belichick said. "I give them a lot of credit for that." The Patriots, dealing with a host of injuries, fell behind 10-0 to the Eagles in the first quarter. "Coming back like we did showed a little bit of mental toughness, which we've shown consistently throughout the year," Tom Brady said.

The Patriots will be without starting safety Patrick Chung (foot), starting cornerback Devin McCourty (shoulder), starting center Dan Connolly (groin) and receiver Chad Ochocinco against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon. Ochocinco apparently had his hamstring tighten up late in the week. The Patriots are extremely thin at safety, where James Ihedigbo (5th year) and Sterling Moore (rookie) have started the last two weeks.

The Patriots are focusing a lot of their defensive attention on running back LeSean McCoy heading into Sunday afternoon's game against the Eagles. "This is by far the most elusive back that we've been against so far this season," New England defensive end Andre Carter said. "Looking at film, it looks like he'll lose yards to gain yards, then those are the tackles on a running back that you hate. "Just as a defense, we always mention just kind of swarming and gang tackling, and that's what it's going to take for four quarters." The Eagles may be starting Vince Young at quarterback with Michael Vick slowed by two broken ribs.

Tom Brady was sacked eight times and hit 20 times over the first five games of the season, but during the most recent five games, he has been sacked 11 and hit 22 times. New England is below average in these categories. Brady's least effective games have come when he has felt pressure in the pocket.

Patriots rookie offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, who is in full remission from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, made his NFL debut in Monday's 34-3 victory over the Chiefs. Cannon played right tackle during New England's final possession of the fourth quarter, contributing to a 14-play, 62-yard drive that ended with fellow rookie Shane Vereen's first NFL touchdown. The fifth-round draft pick out of TCU was activated from the non-football injury list last week, but his first appearance came sooner than many expected. "Seeing him in there was a little bit of a surprise, but when you dress for a game, you've got to be ready to go," right guard Brian Waters said. "So I think he did a pretty good job." Cannon described his first NFL action as "awesome."

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski laughed off a question about whether he suffered a head injury while scoring his second touchdown in Monday night's win over the Chiefs. Gronkowski went down head-first as he got into the end zone, landing awkwardly and looking a little shaky as he got up. He joined the ESPN set after the game and was asked if he was dazed by his head hitting the ground, or if he could even remember it. "I remember the moment and everything," Gronkowski said. "If I didn't I still wouldn’t even say I didn't. I'm trying to play this week."

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski scored a pair of touchdowns on Monday night against the Chiefs. He now has 20 touchdowns in 26 games, surpassing Mike Ditka's mark of 31 for the fewest games needed by a tight end to reach the mark. Gronkowski also pulled within three of the single-season, tight end record of 13 touchdown receptions held by Antonio Gates of San Diego and Vernon Davis of San Francisco.

While the Patriots do not have as much elite talent as they have in the past, they continue to excel in versatility and creativity in the draft. But even the perception of New England's dearth of talent may be a misnomer. "It's really because they lack it at the splash positions," says one NFC evaluator. "They don't have a 'name' running back, and they don't have huge names at wideout, or with the pass-rushers."

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been dealing with a bone bruise near his right elbow since being hit against the Cowboys on Oct. 16, according to two league sources. It is a minor injury and one that should improve and even clear up completely as the season goes along. Brady was seen icing the elbow during the Cowboys game, and has been wearing a black band below the elbow, which is usually associated with tendinitis, in subsequent games.

Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, a former executive in New England, believes it's "ridiculous" for people to criticize Bill Belichick's recent personnel moves. The Patriots added Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco in training camp. Haynesworth was let go recently and Ochocinco has been a disappointment. "I'm not sure why Patriots fans are disillusioned at different times, because they're going to be in the hunt every year," Pioli said. "They still have great ownership, they still have the best coach in the NFL and there's a lot of good people there that are finding players. It's still a special place. Don't worry, Patriots fans."