Then it was the special teams’ turn to collapse.

Quintin Demps returned the kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown that Patriots fullback Heath Evans took the blame for.

And when Cassel couldn’t get a first down on the next possession, DeSean Jackson ran back Chris Hanson’s punt 76 yards for another touchdown on the final play of the half, making it 24-3.

“The punter got a good kick and kind of outkicked his coverage,” Jackson said.

Belichick threw his headset to the ground and bellowed at Hanson on the sideline. Had he punted out of bounds, the Eagles would have had time for no more than a play or two before halftime.

The Patriots could have another problem. Wes Welker, who tied for the NFL lead with 112 receptions last season, left with a rib injury in the second quarter and didn’t return. The team did not comment on his condition.

Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews, who revealed recently that he has been diagnosed with clinical depression, played his first exhibition game.

“I was very pleased, with the exception of a couple of plays,” he said. “I really feel like I’m close to where I need to be for the opener.”

An early sign of the Patriots’ futility came on their first offensive play when Randy Moss was thrown for a 5-yard loss on an end around. The tackler? Former Patriots Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, who signed a $58 million, six-year contract with the Eagles in the offseason.

“It was fun,” Samuel said. “I have something to call him and joke about with him.”

Now the Patriots have just one more game to get things straightened out before the regular season — an exhibition against the Super Bowl champion Giants on Thursday night.

“I know one thing,” Evans said. “We’re a Bill Belichick-coached football team and we’re going to find a way to get better.”

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