Detmer Sticks It to Patriots

As their season disintegrated right before their eyes, the New England Patriots appeared not to know what hit them. Koy Detmer knew.

“I just call it the whuppin’ stick,” the Philadelphia Eagles’ third-string quarterback said after throwing a career-high three touchdown passes in a 24-9 victory over the fading Patriots.

Detmer, playing in place of injured starter Donovan McNabb and backup Doug Pederson, was referring to the celebratory dance he performed after each touchdown. But his comments applied to what the Eagles (4-11) did to the Patriots (7-7), who were eliminated from the playoffs when Buffalo beat Arizona on Sunday night. It was their fifth loss in six games.

“Maybe we’re just not that good,” said Drew Bledsoe, who was sacked six times and threw four interceptions. “I don’t know what the answer is to the situation we’re in.”

Adam Vinatieri produced New England’s only points with three field goals. Bledsoe was 23 for 49 for 331 yards, and has 15 interceptions in the last six games.

“Whether it’s me, whether it’s the offense, whether it’s the entire team, we’re just not very good,” Bledsoe said.

Said defensive tackle Chad Eaton: “This is humiliating is what it is.”

Celebrating with an emphatic flogging motion some players call “whippin’ it,” Detmer created quite a stir with three touchdown passes, including a 50-yard play to Torrance Small for the Eagles’ first touchdown. Detmer also had touchdown passes of 11 yards to Small and 44 yards to Dietrich Jells, but was only seven for 26 for 76 yards on his nonscoring passes.