Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly spoke with the media on Thursday prior to a Week 13 road game against the New England Patriots.
Injuries are starting to add up for the Patriots. Starting offensive lineman Nate Solder and running back Dion Lewis have been placed on injured reserve. Wide receiver Julian Edelman will miss a significant amount of time due to an ankle injury. Wide receiver Danny Amendola and tight end Rob Gronkowski are week-to-week with knee injuries.
However, Kelly was more interested in the status of Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady.
"Did they lose Tom Brady?" Kelly jokingly asked, via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com.
"Then that's what makes them dangerous," he said. "You got arguably probably one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, and he's proven it week in, week out, no matter what's assembled around him."
The Patriots are now 10-1 on the season after suffering their first loss last week to the Denver Broncos in overtime. Brady is an MVP candidate once again. He has thrown for a league-high 3,600 yards with 28 touchdown passes and only four interceptions on the year. Since 2003, New England is 36-4 following a loss.
"It's a credit to the type of player Tom is," Kelly said. "As long as they got him pulling the trigger, it's a dangerous, dangerous operation."
Brady, the No. 199 overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, has had a remarkable career with the Pats. He is a two-time NFL MVP, a three-time Super Bowl MVP and he has four total Super Bowl rings. Also, Brady is a ten-time Pro Bowl selection, and his 12 division titles are the most by any quarterback in NFL history.
"He has an unbelievable command of that scheme," Kelly said. "Then, they find a way to find players that kind of fit it. I think they know what the individual player can do. It all starts and ends with Tom. He's a first-ballot hall of famer. It's a huge challenge for us to have to go up and defend him."
Will the 4-7 Eagles be up for the challenge that Brady presents on Sunday afternoon?
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
Michael Malia is a contributing intern for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Facebook (Michael Malia) or Twitter @Michael_Malia.
